Abdominal Imaging Group
The Abdominal and Urogenital Imaging Research Group is an interdisciplinary research group in the Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. The group forms a cohesive center for faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, and medical students to pursue teaching and research in multi-modality abdominal imaging.
In close collaboration with various clinical sections at the University Hospital Zurich (Department of Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Clinic for Gastroentrology, Clinic for Urology, Department of Internal Medicine, and others) as well as the Institute for Biomedical Engineering, an institution of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and the University of Zurich, the Abdominal and Urogenital Imaging Research Group aims to integrate research and builds collaborations between scientists, physicians, and radiologists establishing a strong resource for imaging-based research at the University of Zurich. Collaborations exist with various Institutions in Switzerland as well as in the USA.
Main interests of the abdominal and urogenital imaging research group include the following modalities and research topics:
Computed Tomography (CT)
- Tissue characterization with dual energy protocols
- Implementation and assessment of image quality of new CT protocols
- CT body perfusion imaging in oncology
- CT Angiography of pelvic vessels before prostate artery embolization
- Dosimetry (e.g. implementation of radiation dose saving algorithms)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- MRI including MR elastography for assessment of diffuse liver disease
- Liver fat and iron quantification
- Multiparametric MRI for diagnosis of rectal cancer
- Diffusion Weighted Imaging (e.g. Whole-Body DWI, renal diffusion, diffusion in oncology)
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and Blood Oxygenation Level Dependant (BOLD) Imaging of the Kidneys
- Detection and Characterization of prostate cancer
- Automatic detection of prostatic contours and cancer foci using techniques of machine learning
- Detection of metastatic lymphnodes in prostate cancer using USPIOs
Ultrasound
- Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in oncology
There’s a rotation system for the head of the abdominal and urogenital imaging research group as well as the chairmanship of the research meetings.
Technical Resources
- MRI (different vendors ; 1 x 1.5T; 3 x 3.0T; 1 x 7.0T)
- CT: dual-source 192-slice CT (Somatom Force), dual-source 128-slice CT (Somatom Definition Flash), single-source 128-slice CT (Somatom Edge Plus)
- PET-CT and PET-MR
- 3D Lab
