Abdominal and oncological diagnostics (with breast diagnostics)

Specialty and area of responsibility

The Department of Abdominal and Oncological Diagnostics deals with imaging diagnostics of the organs of the abdomen and pelvis (e.g. digestive tract, prostate, uterus), the female breast (breast diagnostics section) and the thyroid gland as well as overarching oncological issues. Our work also focuses on the non-invasive diagnosis of blood and lymph vessels. At our University Geriatric Medicine Felix Platter branch, we primarily treat age-related conditions and functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our team consists of six specialists in radiology and six medical assistants who work at both the University Hospital Basel and the Felix Platter Hospital.

Team

Breast diagnostics

Procedure

The majority of diagnostics within the AOD are based on routine radiological procedures such as computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (sonography), and increasingly also on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Conventional X-ray diagnostics play a role above all in the examination of the female breast (mammography) and in fluoroscopy-guided examinations of the gastrointestinal tract. We use MR angiography for non-invasive vascular diagnostics. We also use the nuclear medicine procedure PET/CT. You can find more information on this on the website of the Department of Nuclear Medicine.

Research

Our research focuses on

MR angiography of the peripheral and abdominal circulation with or without contrast agents
Use of specific contrast agents for organ diagnostics using MRI
Diffusion and perfusion imaging of oncological issues using MRI
Use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for oncological issues
Quality control of routine methods

Research focus of abdominal and oncological diagnostics

As part of patient-oriented and interdisciplinary clinical research, our scientific activities focus on functional imaging in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MR angiography (MRA) of the peripheral and abdominal circulation as well as radiation optimization and whole-body emergency diagnostics in computed tomography (CT).

In the field of sonography, our research focuses on the use of pulse-transmitting ultrasound (in mammography) and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (for liver and kidney diagnostics).

MRI

Imaging of parenchymal changes in the liver

Together with Prof. Oliver Bieri's research group, we are currently developing a multiparametric MR protocol for the non-invasive detection and quantification of the most important diffuse parenchymal changes in the liver. To establish this protocol, we are considering T1 relaxation time measurement as a biomarker for liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, the quantification of steatosis hepatis and iron deposition, assessing inflammatory changes in hepatitis and evaluating perfusion imaging - in the model as well as in diffuse and focal changes.

Intestinal motility in MRI

To optimize functional intestinal imaging, in particular for the analysis of intestinal motility, our research team is testing a 3D-SSFP (Steady-state free precession) sequence.

Native MRA for artifact-free diagnostics

Our research focus on MR angiography concerns the contrast-free imaging of vessels, among other things to minimize artefacts. The non-contrast DIEP-MRA (Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator-MRA) of abdominal wall vessels for preoperative diagnostics prior to breast reconstruction seems promising for clinical routine and potentially superior to CT.

Radiation optimization in CT

In the field of computed tomography, we are concentrating on radiation dose reduction, together with research groups at the University Hospital Basel (oncology, urology), other university hospitals (Duke University, University of Toronto, Heidelberg University Hospital, University Hospital Zurich, University Hospital Bern) and industrial partners (Siemens Healthcare, Ulrich Medical).

Emergency whole-body CT

As part of a multicenter study ("REACT-2") led by the AMC (Amsterdam Medical Center), we are comparing whole-body CT in polytrauma care with the standardized conventional procedure according to ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support).

Sonography

Evaluation of pulse-transmitting breast ultrasonography

Together with the Breast Center of the University Hospital Basel, our scientists are evaluating the clinical use of pulse-transmitting ultrasound (MUT: Multimodal Ultrasound Transmission) in mammography. MUT was launched in Basel in the fall of 2013 - the world's first clinical installation - see the article " Could an ultrasound bath squeeze out mammograms?" (published in Swissinfo on April 24, 2014, in the "Sci + Tech" section).

Contrast-enhanced sonography of the abdomen

Our research team is also systematically evaluating the accuracy of the examination of liver and kidney lesions as well as oncologically indicated diagnostics (for kidney and liver tumors) using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).

Cooperation

We participate in the Breast Center of the University Hospital Basel and are responsible for the following examinations:

Mammography, breast ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging of the breast (MR mammography)
minimally invasive biopsy using ultrasound guidance, mammographic guidance (tomosynthesis or sterotaxy), MR mammography guidance

Abdominal and oncological diagnostics team

Department management

Prof. Daniel Boll

Stv. Chefarzt Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Leitung abdominelle und onkologische Diagnostik, med. Dienstleistung

Tel. +41 61 328 63 84

PD Dr. Tobias Heye

Leitender Arzt

Leitung Informationstechnologie, Stv. Leitung abdominelle und onkologische Diagnostik

Tel. +41 61 328 63 24

Head of breast diagnostics section

Dr. Noemi Schmidt - EBBI

Leitung Mammadiagnostik, Kaderärztin, Mitglied Tumorzentrum

Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Mitglied Tumorzentrum

Tel. +41 61 556 59 06

Dr. Claudia Bühler

ärztliche MA

Stv. Leiterin Mammadiagnostik, Mitglied Tumorzentrum

Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Tel. +41 61 328 65 86

Senior physicians

Dr. Konrad Appelt

Kaderarzt

interventionelle Radiologie und Mammadiagnostik

Tel. +41 61 328 56 31

Dr. Hanns-Christian Breit - Dipl. Phys.

Kaderarzt abdominelle und onkologische Diagnostik, Leiter Forschungskoordination

Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Tel. +41 61 328 56 33

PD Dr. Dominik Deniffel

Oberarzt und Fellow abdominelle und onkologische Diagnostik

Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Tel. +41 61 328 51 76

Dr. Dilyana Fricker

Oberärztin und Fellow Mammadiagnostik

Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Tel. +41 61 328 49 20

PD Dr. Björn Friebe

Kaderarzt abdominelle und onkologische Diagnostik und interventionelle Radiologie

Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Tel. +41 61 328 56 40

Verena Funk

Oberärztin muskuloskelettale sowie abdominelle und onkologische Diagnostik, Leitung Sonografie

Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Tel. +41 61 328 73 71

PD Dr. Markus Obmann

Kaderarzt muskuloskelettale sowie abdominelle und onkologische Diagnostik, Leitung Computertomografie und Röntgendiagnostik, stv. Leitung muskuloskelettale Diagnostik

Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin

Tel. +41 61 556 59 05