Specialist in Radiology in Mönchengladbach (North Rhine-Westphalia): Prof. Blondin

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Prof. Dr Dirk Blondin is a specialist in radiology and head physician of the Department of Radiology, Vascular Radiology & Nuclear Medicine at Elisabeth-Krankenhaus Rheydt in Mönchengladbach.

The Department of Radiology, Vascular Radiology & Nuclear Medicine offers almost all diagnostic imaging procedures commonly used today, such as digital X-ray, multi-slice computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear medicine procedures.

The Entire Spectrum of State-of-the-Art Diagnostics, Screening, and Early Detection

Radiological imaging includes diagnostic imaging of all organ systems. MRI imaging focuses on CNS, heart, liver, intestine, prostate, breast, and vessels. Non-invasive imaging of vessels for constriction or other abnormalities is carried out using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without radiation exposure—or with modern computed tomography (CT) technology at a reduced dose.

This is because, in addition to conventional X-ray fluoroscopy procedures, computed tomography procedures are also carried out with a minimum of radiation exposure for the patient, thanks to state-of-the-art equipment.

Tumor screening by mammography, whole-body MRI, or mpMRI of the prostate. Nuclear medicine diagnostics using scintigraphy allows the detection of metastases in the bone skeleton in malignant diseases.

High Level of Expertise in the Diagnosis of Special Urological Issues

The team led by Prof. Dr Dirk Blondin specializes, among others, in radiological diagnostics of the urogenital organs. In doing so, they cooperate closely with specialists in urology to guarantee their patients comprehensive treatment and a reliable flow of information.

According to PI-RADS, the multiparametric MRI of the prostate is carried out with the highest professional expertise and many years of experience. Furthermore, a targeted biopsy necessary due to the MRI findings is performed as a fusion biopsy in close cooperation with the Department of Urology (PD Dr C. Arsov) or as an in-bore biopsy in MRI in the case of a particular constellation.

The S3 guideline underlines the importance of MRI in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. No other imaging technique, like MRI, can detect and analyze the different pathologies of the prostate because inflammatory changes can also lead to increased PSA. MRI can therefore avoid unnecessary biopsies.

Specialists for Minimally Invasive Diagnostics and Prostate Biopsy

If radiological imaging confirms an urgent suspicion of carcinoma, this can be further clarified with a minimally invasive biopsy.

The colleagues from the Department of Urology will carry out the fusion biopsy of the prostate in the presence of the radiologist who runs the fusion software. If a targeted biopsy does not reveal any carcinoma findings in the pathologist's fine tissue analysis, and the suspicion of carcinoma remains clinically and, in the imaging, another biopsy can be performed directly in the MRI as an in-bore biopsy.

In this case, the biopsy is obtained in the tube under MRI monitoring. The patient is in prone position, and the biopsy needle is approached transrectally or through the gluteal muscles to the suspicious focus in the prostate. The diagnosis can then be confirmed by histological examination of the removed tissue cylinder.

Precise Cardiac Diagnostics in Mönchengladbach

Radiological imaging also provides valuable services for the diagnosis of heart disease.

If a coronary heart disease is suspected, cardio-CT can be used to assess the extent of calcification in the coronary vascular system. The coronary vessels can be directly imaged and analyzed using contrast agents with software support. On the one hand, cardio-MRI allows the pumping capacity of the heart muscle to be visualized; on the other hand, mapping and LGE (special late images after contrast agent administration) can be used to diagnose better inflammation of the heart muscle and scars or diseases of the heart. In addition, using stress MRI, blood flow to the heart muscle can be analyzed at rest and under artificial drug-induced stress.

Both examinations are based on an ECG to understand the temporal coupling of cardiac action and excitation conduction. The analysis is always software-supported.

State-of-the-Art Vascular Radiology: Expert in Angiography and Stent Implantation

As interventional radiologists, Prof. Blondin and his team specialize in the imaging and treatment of vascular diseases. The radiology department cooperates with practicing angiologists and surgical colleagues from the städtischen Kliniken in Mönchengladbach. Technological progress in interventional radiology allows minimally invasive implantation of stents. These are vascular supports, thanks to which a narrowed vascular branch can be kept open. However, vascular occlusions are increasingly treated by removing the calcifications and deposits. Then, the vessel is reopened with a type of drill. A stent is then usually not necessary. These methods are used especially in the treatment of intermittent claudication.

Intermittent Claudication: Diagnosis and Therapy

This disease is also known as peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Progressive atherosclerotic processes cause arteries in the extremities to become narrowed, resulting in a reduced blood supply to the underlying circulation area. As a result, patients suffer from sensory disturbances and movement-dependent pain. Since it is primarily the legs being affected, sufferers are often only able to walk short distances, i.e., from storefront to storefront, before having to rest briefly to recover.

Interventional radiology allows minimally invasive treatment of diseased vessels without general anesthesia and with rapid recovery.

Pediatric Radiology Mönchengladbach: Imaging Diagnostics from Premature Babies to Adolescents

Due to the high soft tissue contrast in MRI, a fetus in the uterus can also be depicted well and requested by the gynecologist or prenatal physician for specific questions, in addition to conventional screening procedures, such as ultrasound. In most cases, a fetal MRI is performed between the 24th and 32nd week of pregnancy and is used to clarify malformations of the fetal nervous system and lung maturation.

Further indications for using MRI in children are metabolic diseases, rheumatic diseases, and other joint complaints, sports injuries, chronic or acute severe inflammations of organs and bones, and tumor diseases.

The specialists around Prof. Blondin are also entrusted with the anatomical characteristics of the child's and adolescent's body in the respective stages of development and cooperate closely with colleagues from the pediatric disciplines in the affiliated hospital.

Radiological Facility Fully Digitalized

Thanks to progressive digitalization, all findings and image material can be transferred easily and securely from one specialist department to another. This means specialists within and outside the hospital can access the patient's radiological imaging if necessary.

Please, visit the website of Elisabeth-Krankenhaus Rheydt for further information on Professor Blondin.