Typical indications

• Depiction of the entire body
• tumor diagnostics
• Vascular diagnostics of the entire body

Whole-body MRI allows the entire body to be imaged, i.e., all organs, the skeletal system, the spine, the vascular system, and the joints. The examination does not replace a specific partial body/joint or organ examination. The examination is primarily used for the early detection of certain types of cancer. However, depending on age and genetic or individual predisposition, other issues, such as possible narrowing of blood vessels, can also be clarified. Please clarify in advance whether your health insurance will cover the costs of the examination or at least part of them.

The procedure does not involve X-rays. Please clarify in advance whether your health insurance will cover the costs of the examination, or at least part of them.

Typical indications

• Tumor exclusion of the lung
• pneumonia
• pulmonary embolism

Low-dose CT scans of the lungs are performed in close cooperation with our colleagues in private practice, particularly pulmonologists and general practitioners, and can complement their examinations. Lung cancer in particular can now be diagnosed very gently and reliably using low-dose computed tomography. However, when it comes to really fine details, e.g., before therapy, a "normal" CT scan of the lungs is usually still required, as the image resolution is even more detailed than with a low-dose CT scan. With the extremely low-dose CT scan available to our patients, however, even in this case the radiation exposure is very low. Click here to learn more about our high-end spiral CT ...
With state-of-the-art technology, tumors can be detected from a diameter of just a few millimeters.

The procedure is therefore very well suited as an early detection measure for patients with an increased risk of lung cancer (e.g., heavy smokers). In addition to its use as an early detection method for lung cancer, we also perform low-dose CT scans of the lungs, depending on the issue at hand and the patient's constitution, to investigate diseases related purely to the lungs (e.g., asbestosis, sarcoidosis, fibrosis) and to search for tumors in high-risk patients. The indication for performing the scan should be made in consultation with a pulmonologist or family doctor.

Advantages and disadvantages of early detection of lung cancer using computed tomography

• Low-dose CT using multi-slice technology is currently considered the most accurate method for early detection of lung cancer and can therefore increase the chances of recovery, as tumors can be detected at an early stage.
• Low-dose CT scans of the lungs can also detect lung cancer tumors that are "hidden" behind blood vessels and the dome of the diaphragm. Such tumors can escape detection using conventional X-ray procedures.
• Using our standard computer-assisted analysis of CT data, we can accurately measure the volume of a tumor and detect even the smallest changes in size. This means that a follow-up CT scan can usually distinguish benign tissue changes from malignant ones with a high degree of certainty.
• The introduction of new detector systems means that lung examinations can be performed on modern CT scanners with a very low radiation dose. With multi-slice CT technology using the SIEMENS Edge, radiation exposure is now only a fraction of that of original CT examinations.

The procedure requires only a low dose of X-rays and may only be performed by radiologists.

Typical indications

• Especially breast cancer, secondary cancer

For some women, MRI examination of the female breast can be used not only as a supplement to, but also as an alternative to X-ray mammography. It can help to clarify certain issues that may have remained unresolved during mammography and other examination procedures of the female breast. The examination should only be performed between the 6th and 12th day after the first day of the menstrual period. In the second half of the cycle, the mammary gland tissue changes due to the increasing influence of progesterone. As a result, healthy glandular tissue also absorbs contrast medium and can no longer be reliably distinguished from diseased tissue.

MR mammography is used, for example, to examine breast cancer patients in detail before surgery. MR mammography is also used in the follow-up care of patients who have already undergone breast surgery or who have breast implants. This procedure complements conventional X-ray mammography, especially in women with dense tissue structures.

MR mammography undoubtedly offers the highest sensitivity and accuracy for detecting invasive breast tumors. However, magnetic resonance imaging alone cannot always distinguish between benign and malignant tumors or detect precancerous breast cancer (carcinoma in situ).

Who is this examination suitable for?

• For women who have been diagnosed with changes in their breast tissue (such as a palpable lump or abnormalities detected during an X-ray or ultrasound examination): Breast MRI can also provide information about whether changes in the breast are benign or malignant when the usual early detection examinations such as mammography (X-ray) and ultrasound do not provide a reliable assessment.
• For patients with breast cancer as a preoperative examination to rule out further cancerous lesions and plan the surgical procedure. If chemotherapy is necessary prior to surgery, its course and effectiveness can be monitored.
• For breast cancer patients undergoing tumor follow-up care, to rule out scar recurrence (renewed tumor formation at the scar) with greater certainty.
• For women with breast implants (e.g., silicone): Implants can interfere with conventional mammography diagnostics (the implant covers large parts of the glandular tissue). In addition, the position and integrity of the implants can be checked.
• For patients who, for certain reasons, cannot or do not wish to undergo breast cancer screening with X-ray mammography: for example, young women with a family history of breast cancer who require regular early detection examinations from the age of 30.

The procedure does not involve X-rays. Please clarify in advance whether your health insurance will cover the costs of the examination, or at least part of them.

Typical indications

• Especially prostate cancer

Prostate examination using MRI is a modern diagnostic procedure in the fight against prostate cancer. In addition to anatomical imaging, modern multiparametric MRI procedures according to PI-RADS 2.1 (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System) also use functional MRI procedures to aid decision-making. It is important to find the most aggressive tumor (index lesion), as this is decisive for therapy. In many cases, prostate MRI according to PI-RADS can do this. A planned biopsy by colleagues in urology can thus be performed in a much more targeted manner. MR prostate imaging according to PI-RADS is undisputedly the most sensitive and accurate method for the non-invasive detection of prostate cancer. The Radiology Practice Baden-Baden has many years of expertise in the field of MR prostate imaging with Q2 certifications from the German Radiological Society.

The procedure does not involve X-rays. Please clarify in advance whether your health insurance will cover the costs of the examination, or at least part of them.

Who is this examination particularly suitable for?

• For men who are scheduled for a biopsy.
• For men who have been diagnosed with elevated PSA levels and whose tissue sample (punch biopsy) showed benign results, but whose PSA levels continue to rise (prostate MRI before 2nd punch biopsy (fusion biopsy)).
• For men who have already been histologically diagnosed with prostate cancer, as an additional aid in making the upcoming therapeutic decision (e.g., surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, etc.).
• If the PSA level rises again after surgical removal of the prostate – question: local recurrence? Lymph node enlargement in the pelvic area? Many radiation therapy institutions prefer this cross-sectional imaging technique for radiation therapy.

Typical indications

• Diagnosis of CHD (coronary heart disease), coronary artery narrowing
• Determination of coronary calcium
• Stent and bypass check

Cardiac CT is performed in close cooperation with our colleagues in private practice, especially cardiologists, and can complement their examinations. CT coronary angiography or cardiac CT is performed to rule out narrowing of the coronary arteries in cases of corresponding risk factors or noticeable symptoms. In addition, the patency of coronary artery bypass vessels can usually be reliably verified. CT coronary angiography allows the coronary arteries to be visualized without the need to insert a catheter into the groin. Cardio CT is now an integral part of cardiological and European guidelines. The Radiology Practice Baden-Baden has been performing cardio CT for many years and has Q2 certifications from the German Radiological Society.

Interesting facts about the radiation dose of CT coronary angiography

As with cardiac catheterization, CT coronary angiography uses X-rays, which means that the examination involves exposure to radiation. The radiation dose varies depending on the issue being investigated. The Radiologie Baden-Baden practice has a top-of-the-range 128-slice spiral CT scanner from SIEMENS Edge – it is particularly fast at producing razor-sharp images of the beating heart and is also extremely low in radiation. In many cases, CT coronary angiography can achieve a radiation dose of less than 1 mSv. This dose is significantly lower than the usual doses for cardiac catheterization—however, only a cardiac catheter can be used to perform a direct intervention in cases requiring treatment. This means that the radiation is significantly lower than the amount to which every person is exposed from the environment each year (approx. 2.5 mSv per year).Click here to learn more about our high-end spiral CT scanner...

Preparation: Avoid caffeinated beverages on the day of the examination and do not take any potency-enhancing medication (e.g., Viagra) up to 36 hours before the examination. Click here to learn more about things to consider when undergoing a cardiac CT scan ...

Who is this examination suitable for?

• For patients with a so-called "moderate, or possibly even low, pre-test probability" of coronary heart disease (CHD), i.e., when the probability of coronary artery narrowing requiring treatment is rather low—but cannot be ruled out with certainty. Please feel free to contact us or your cardiologist to discuss whether you need a CT coronary angiography.
• For patients after aortocoronary bypass surgery. To assess the condition of the bypass vessels, CT coronary angiography is now a widely accepted alternative to cardiac catheterization.
• For patients who require monitoring of coronary artery patency following stent implantation.
• For patients scheduled for heart valve surgery.

Advantages of CT coronary angiography

• Unlike cardiac catheterization, no catheter is inserted into the artery.
• The examination is much faster and involves less radiation than cardiac catheterization.
• "Soft plaques," which have not yet led to narrowing of the coronary arteries but are considered critical, can only be detected using CT coronary angiography.

The procedure requires only a low dose of X-rays and may only be performed by radiologists. Please clarify in advance whether your health insurance will cover the costs of the examination, or at least part of them.

We do not currently offer cardio MRI in our practice.

Typical indications

• Especially breast cancer, secondary cancer

For some women, MRI examination of the female breast can be used not only as a supplement to, but also as an alternative to X-ray mammography. It can help to clarify certain issues that may have remained unresolved during mammography and other examination procedures of the female breast. The examination should only be performed between the 6th and 12th day after the first day of the menstrual period. In the second half of the cycle, the mammary gland tissue changes due to the increasing influence of progesterone. As a result, healthy glandular tissue also absorbs contrast medium and can no longer be reliably distinguished from diseased tissue.

MR mammography is used, for example, to examine breast cancer patients in detail before surgery. MR mammography is also used in the follow-up care of patients who have already undergone breast surgery or who have breast implants. This procedure complements conventional X-ray mammography, especially in women with dense tissue structures.

MR mammography is highly sensitive in detecting invasive breast tumors. However, magnetic resonance imaging alone cannot always distinguish between benign and malignant tumors or detect precancerous breast cancer (carcinoma in situ). MR mammography examinations are performed in close cooperation with our colleagues in private practice, especially gynecologists, and can complement their examinations.

Who is this examination suitable for?

• For women who have been diagnosed with changes in their breast tissue (such as a palpable lump or abnormalities detected during an X-ray or ultrasound examination): Breast MRI can also provide information about whether changes in the breast are benign or malignant when the usual early detection examinations such as mammography (X-ray) and ultrasound do not provide a reliable assessment.
• For patients with breast cancer as a preoperative examination to rule out further cancerous lesions and plan the surgical procedure. If chemotherapy is necessary prior to surgery, its course and effectiveness can be monitored.
• For breast cancer patients undergoing tumor follow-up care, to rule out scar recurrence (renewed tumor formation at the scar) with greater certainty.
• For women with breast implants (e.g., silicone): Implants can interfere with conventional mammography diagnostics (the implant covers large parts of the glandular tissue). In addition, the position and integrity of the implants can be checked.
• For patients who, for certain reasons, cannot or do not wish to undergo breast cancer screening with X-ray mammography: for example, young women with a family history of breast cancer who require regular early detection examinations from the age of 30.

The procedure does not involve X-rays. Please clarify in advance whether your health insurance will cover the costs of the examination, or at least part of them.

Typical indications

• Especially prostate cancer

The MR prostate examination is carried out in close cooperation with our colleagues in private practice, especially urologists, and can complement their examinations. The examination of the prostate using MRI is a modern diagnostic procedure in the fight against prostate cancer. The procedure combines several advantages: the organ to be examined can be broken down into different tissue layers for imaging. In addition to anatomical procedures, modern multiparametric MR procedures according to PI-RADS2 (Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System) use functional MRI procedures for decision-making. It is important to find the most aggressive tumor portion (index lesion), as this is decisive for therapy. In many cases, prostate MRI according to PI-RADS2 can do this. In many cases, this allows colleagues in urology to perform a planned biopsy in a more targeted manner. According to the current state of knowledge, MR prostate examination according to PI-RADS2 offers the best chance of visualizing prostate cancer. This is often successful, but not always. The Radiology Practice Baden-Baden has many years of expertise in the field of MR prostate imaging.

The procedure does not involve X-rays. Please clarify in advance whether your health insurance will cover the costs of the examination, or at least part of them.

Who is this examination particularly suitable for?

• For men who, after being diagnosed with elevated PSA levels, have had a tissue sample (punch biopsy) taken that showed benign results, but whose PSA levels continue to rise (prostate MRI before 2nd punch biopsy)
• For men who have already been histologically diagnosed with prostate cancer, as an additional aid in making the upcoming therapeutic decision (e.g., surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, etc.).
• If the PSA level rises again after surgical removal of the prostate – question: local recurrence? Lymph node enlargement in the pelvic area? Many radiation therapy institutions prefer this cross-sectional imaging technique for radiation therapy.

Typical indications

• Unclear abdominal pain, tumor exclusion
• Liver mass
• space-occupying lesion in the abdomen
• Imaging of the bile ducts without contrast medium (MRCP – magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography)
• Representation of the urinary tract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen/liver is a radiological examination procedure used to visualize the structures in the abdominal area and liver with the aid of a magnetic field.

The procedure does not require X-rays.