Preliminary results of intracranial aneurysm treatment with derivo2heal embolization device.

INTRODUCTION: The Derivo 2 Heal Embolization Device (D2HED) is a novel flow diverter (FD) providing a fibrin-/heparin-based surface coating aiming at lower thrombogenicity. We evaluate periprocedural aspects and preliminary aneurysm occlusion efficacy for intracranial aneurysm treatment. METHODS: Thirty-four D2HEDs deployments (34 aneurysms, 32 patients) between 04/2021 and 10/2023 were analyzed. All patients were under dual antiplatelet therapy (dAPT). Periprocedural details, adverse events, and follow-up (FU) imaging were reviewed by consultant-level neuroradiologists. Complication rates and aneurysm occlusion efficacy are compared with performance data of other FDs based on literature research. RESULTS: Each intervention succeeded in the deployment of one D2HED. Significant and/or increased intraaneurysmal contrast stagnation immediately after D2HED deployment was seen in 73.5% of cases according to O'Kelly-Marotta (OKM) grading scale. Clinically relevant early adverse events occurred in three patients: Among them two cases with fusiform aneurysms in the posterior circulation (ischemic events, early in-stent-thrombosis) and one patient (ischemic event) out of the majority of 31 treated internal carotid artery aneurysms (3,2%). Regarding mid-term FU (> 165 days), one aneurysm did not show progressive occlusion presumably caused by a prominent A1 segment arising from the terminal ICA aneurysm itself. Apart from that, mid-term complete / partial occlusion rates of 80% / 20% could be demonstrated. CONCLUSION: Our case series - although suffering from restricted sample size - suggests a potential effectiveness of D2HED in managing intracranial aneurysms. Further studies with larger samples are warranted to quantify long-term occlusion efficacy and the impact of antithrombogenic surface coating on the necessary (d)APT.

Basilar artery occlusion: drip-and-ship versus direct-to-center for mechanical thrombectomy within the Neurovascular Network of Southwest Bavaria (NEVAS).

BACKGROUND: Recent clinical trials revealed a substantial clinical benefit for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with basilar artery occlusion (BAO). While urban areas are sufficiently covered with comprehensive stroke centers and MT expertise, rural areas lack such resources. Structured telemedical stroke networks offer rural hospitals instant consultation by stroke experts, enabling swift administration of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) on-site and transportation for MT. For BAO patients, data on performance and clinical outcomes in telemedical stroke networks are lacking. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients with acute BAO eligible for MT: those treated directly in our comprehensive stroke center (direct-to-center/DC) and those treated in rural hospitals that were telemedically consulted by the Neurovascular Network of Southwest Bavaria (NEVAS) and transferred to our center for MT (drip-and-ship, DS). Key time intervals, stroke management performance and functional outcome after 90 days were compared. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics, including premorbid status and stroke severity, were comparable. Time from symptom onset to IVT was identical in both groups (118 min). There was a delay of 180 min until recanalization in DS patients, mainly due to patient transport for MT. Procedural treatment time intervals, success of recanalization and complications were comparable. Clinical outcome at 3 months follow-up of DS patients was not inferior to DC patients. CONCLUSION: We show for the first time that patients with BAO in rural areas benefit from a structured telemedicine network such as NEVAS, regarding both on-site processing and drip-and-ship for MT. Clinical outcomes are comparable among DS and DC patients.

[Stroke alarm-Arterial ischemic stroke as one of the most time-critical emergencies in children and adolescents]. / Notfall-Neuropädiatrie ­ Der arteriell ischämische Schlaganfall als einer der zeitkritischsten Notfälle bei Kindern und Jugendlichen.

Arterial ischemic stroke in childhood and adolescence is one of the most time-critical emergencies in pediatrics. Nevertheless, it is often diagnosed with a considerable time delay which may be associated with low awareness, the sometimes nonspecific clinical presentation with a wide variety of differential diagnoses, and less established 'acute care structures'. The revascularisation strategies in adult stroke care are also potential and promising treatment options for children, even if available evidence is still limited. In the post-acute phase, the etiological work-up is complex due to the multitude of risk factors to be considered. But it is essential to identify each child's individual risk profile as it determines secondary prevention, risk of recurrence and outcome. Long-term care in a multiprofessional, interdisciplinary team must take into account the bio-psycho-social aspects to integrate the child into its social and educational, and later professional environment.

Robust evidence for long-term survival with 90Y radioembolization in chemorefractory liver-predominant metastatic colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to provide further evidence for the efficacy/safety of radioembolization using yttrium-90-resin microspheres for unresectable chemorefractory liver metastases from colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: We followed 104 consecutively treated patients until death. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the day of the first radioembolization procedure. Response was defined by changes in tumour volume as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) v1.0 and/or a ≥30 % reduction in serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) at 3 months. RESULTS: Survival varied between 23 months in patients who had a complete response to prior chemotherapy and 13 months in patients with a partial response or stable disease. Median OS also significantly improved (from 5.8 months to 17.1 months) if response durability to radioembolization extended beyond 6 months. Patients with a positive trend in CEA serum levels (≥30 % reduction) at 3 months post-radioembolization also had a survival advantage compared with those who did not: 15.0 vs 6.7 months. Radioembolization was well tolerated. Grade 3 increases in bilirubin were reported in 5.0 % of patients at 3 months postprocedure. CONCLUSIONS: After multiple chemotherapies, many patients still have a good performance status and are eligible for radioembolization. This single procedure can achieve meaningful survivals and is generally well tolerated. KEY POINTS: • After multiple chemotherapies, many patients are still eligible for radioembolization (RE). • RE can achieve meaningful survival in patients with chemorefractory liver-predominant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). • Tumour responsiveness to prior systemic treatments is a significant determinant of overall survival (OS) after RE. • Radioembolization in patients with a good performance status is generally well tolerated.

Automatic path proposal computation for CT-guided percutaneous liver biopsy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate feasibility of automatic software-based path proposals for CT-guided percutaneous biopsies. METHODS: Thirty-three patients (60 [Formula: see text] 12 years) referred for CT-guided biopsy of focal liver lesions were consecutively included. Pre-interventional CT and dedicated software (FraunhoferMeVis Pathfinder) were used for (semi)automatic segmentation of relevant structures. The software subsequently generated three path proposals in downward quality for CT-guided biopsy. Proposed needle paths were compared with consensus proposal of two experts (comparable, less suitable, not feasible). In case of comparable results, equivalent approach to software-based path proposal was used. Quality of segmentation process was evaluated (Likert scale, 1 [Formula: see text] best, 6 [Formula: see text] worst), and time for processing was registered. RESULTS: All biopsies were performed successfully without complications. In 91 % one of the three automatic path proposals was rated comparable to experts' proposal. None of the first proposals was rated not feasible, and 76 % were rated comparable to the experts' proposal. 7 % automatic path proposals were rated not feasible, all being second choice ([Formula: see text]) or third choice ([Formula: see text]). In 79 %, segmentation at least was good. Average total time for establishing automatic path proposal was 42 [Formula: see text] 9 s. CONCLUSION: Automatic software-based path proposal for CT-guided liver biopsies in the majority provides path proposals that are easy to establish and comparable to experts' insertion trajectories.

Renal Pseudoaneurysms and Arteriovenous Fistulas as a Complication of Nephron-Sparing Partial Nephrectomy: Technical and Functional Outcomes of Patients Treated With Selective Microcoil Embolization During a Ten-Year Period.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes in patients who underwent selective interventional embolization of renal pseudoaneurysms or arteriovenous fistulas at our center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our retrospective analysis included all consecutive patients who received selective transcatheter embolization of renal pseudoaneurysms or arteriovenous fistulas after partial nephrectomy in our department from January, 2003 to September, 2013. The technical and clinical success rate and functional outcome of every procedure was collected and analyzed. Furthermore, the change in renal parenchymal volume before and after embolization was determined in a subgroup. RESULTS: A total of 1425 patients underwent partial nephrectomy at our hospital. Of these, 39 (2.7 %) were identified with a pseudoaneurysm or an arteriovenous fistula after partial nephrectomy. The diagnosis of the vascular lesions was made by means of biphasic CT or CEUS. Technical success by means of selective microcoil embolization was achieved in all 39 patients (100 %). Clinical success, defined as no need for further operation or nephrectomy during follow-up, was achieved in 35 of 39 patients (85.7 %). Renal function, as measured by eGFR before and after the intervention, did not change significantly. However, a mean loss of parenchymal volume of 25.2 % was observed in a subgroup. No major or minor complications were attributable to the embolization procedure. CONCLUSION: Transcatheter embolization is a promising method for treating vascular complications which may occur after partial nephrectomy. We confirm the high success rate of this technique while discussing renal functional outcomes and potential safety aspects. KEY POINTS: Arterial pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas are rare but severe complications after partial nephrectomy. Selective microcoil embolization is a safe and effective kidney-preserving procedure for treating these complications. Embolization leads to a significant loss of renal parenchymal volume but not to a loss of renal function.

Safety of Radioembolization with (90)Yttrium Resin Microspheres Depending on Coiling or No-Coiling of Aberrant/High-Risk Vessels.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of radioembolization (RE) with (90)Yttrium ((90)Y) resin microspheres depending on coiling or no-coiling of aberrant/high-risk vessels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Early and late toxicity after 566 RE procedures were analyzed retrospectively in accordance with the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v3.0). For optimal safety, aberrant vessels were either coil embolized (n = 240/566, coiling group) or a more peripheral position of the catheter tip was chosen to treat right or left liver lobes (n = 326/566, no-coiling group). RESULTS: Clinically relevant late toxicities (≥ Grade 3) were observed in 1% of our overall cohort. The no-coiling group had significantly less "any" (P = 0.0001) or "clinically relevant" (P = 0.0003) early toxicity. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in delayed toxicity in the coiling versus the no-coiling group. No RE-induced liver disease was noted after all 566 procedures. CONCLUSION: RE with (90)Y resin microspheres is a safe and effective treatment option. Performing RE without coil embolization of aberrant vessels prior to treatment could be an alternative for experienced centers.

[Computed tomography guidance: fluoroscopy and more]. / CT-Steuerung: Fluoroskopie und mehr.

Although ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are competitive imaging modalities for the guidance of needle-based interventions, computed tomography (CT) is the only modality suitable for image-guided interventions in all regions of the body, including the lungs and bone. The ongoing technical development of CT involves accelerated image acquisition, significantly improved spatial resolution, CT scanners with an extended gantry diameter, acceleration of the procedure through joystick control of relevant functions of interventional CT by the interventional radiologist and tube current modulation to protect the hands of the examiner and radiosensitive organs of the patient. CT fluoroscopy can be used as a real-time method (the intervention is monitored under continuous CT fluoroscopy) or as a quick check method (repeated acquisitions of individual CT fluoroscopic images after each change of needle or table position). For the two approaches, multislice CT fluoroscopy (MSCTF) technique with wide detectors is particularly useful because even in the case of needle deviation from the center slice the needle tip is simultaneously visualised in the neighboring slices. With the aid of this technique a precise placement of interventional devices is possible even in angled access routes and in the presence of pronounced respiratory organ movements. As the reduction of CT fluoroscopy time significantly reduces radiation exposure for the patient and staff, the combination of a quick check technique and a low milliampere technique with multislice CT fluoroscopy devices is advantageous.

[MRI for monitoring of high intensity focused ultrasound: current developments]. / MRT zum Monitoring bei hochintensivem fokussiertem Ultraschall: Aktuelle Entwicklungen.

With respect to monitoring of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), synonym focused ultrasound (FUS) treatment, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is characterized by several advantageous properties: the precise definition and morphological characterization of the target area (before and after the intervention), the real-time visualization of the treatment effect by thermal imaging (during the intervention) and in the sense of a stereotactic system, the 3-dimensional localization of the target lesion, planning of the target volume and assessment of the achieved ablation volume (before and during the intervention). Non-enhanced T2-weighted multislice MR images are acquired for planning of the intervention. For temperature monitoring (comprising thermometry and thermodosimetry), the temperature-dependent shift of proton resonance frequency (PRFS) is most frequently employed. This method is independent of the treated tissue type or thermally induced tissue changes and facilitates a relative measurement of the temperature change based on a reference value. Future MRI applications include diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI-MRI; for the intrainterventional estimation of treatment efficacy), dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI, for the prediction of the potential and assessment of the treatment effect achieved) and motion-corrected temperature monitoring (referenceless and multibaseline thermometry).

[MR-guided focused ultrasound. Current and future applications]. / MR-gesteuerter fokussierter Ultraschall. Aktuelle und potenzielle Indikationen.

STANDARD RADIOLOGICAL METHODS: High-intensity focused ultrasound (synonyms FUS and HIFU) under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance (synonyms MRgFUS and MR-HIFU) is a completely non-invasive technology for accurate thermal ablation of a target tissue while neighboring tissues and organs are preserved. METHODICAL INNOVATIONS: The combination of FUS with MRI for planning, (near) real-time monitoring and outcome assessment of treatment markedly enhances the safety of the procedure. ACHIEVEMENTS: The MRgFUS procedure is clinically established in particular for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids, followed by palliative ablation of painful bone metastases. Furthermore, promising results have been shown for the treatment of adenomyosis, malignant tumors of the prostate, breast and liver and for various intracranial applications, such as thermal ablation of brain tumors, functional neurosurgery and transient disruption of the blood-brain barrier.

Image fusion in the management of thermal tumor ablation of the liver.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether image fusion with contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and CT is effective in the pre-, intra- and post-interventional management of liver lesions during microwave or radiofrequency ablation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifteen patients with a single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) up to 3 cm diameter, identified on both contrast-enhanced CT (Siemens Somatom Definition AS and Definition Edge, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) and ultrasound (Siemens ACUSON S2000™ or S3000™, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) were retrospectively enrolled between July 2011 and May 2012. Either automatic registration or plane match registration was chosen on CT and ultrasound for the pre-, intra- and postinterventional management of all treated liver lesions during microwave or radiofrequency ablation. Using conventional ultrasound B-mode, CEUS and image fusion including B-mode and CEUS the detectability of the liver lesions was evaluated semi-quantitatively by comparing the image sequences in a consensus reading. Eight patients underwent radiofrequency ablation and seven patients underwent microwave ablation. RESULTS: All patients were examined using all diagnostic ultrasound tools of the study. The results show that the procedure is easy and convenient to perform, as well as efficient. The co-registration procedure took approximately 5 to 10 minutes depending on the amount of DICOM volume-data and the habitus of the patient. The results show that the use of image fusion with CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasound could improve the diagnostic assessment capabilities in comparison to the examination without image fusion in the pre-, intra- and postinterventional management of malignant liver lesions during thermal ablation. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous thermal ablation guided by contrast-enhanced ultrasound and image fusion seems to be an efficient approach for malignant liver lesions especially if these are not clearly demarcated by B-mode. The use of the image fusion technique in the pre-, intra- and postinterventional management can increase operator confidence, the accuracy of the procedure, and technical success in real time.

[Ultrasound-guided image fusion with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical utility for imaging and interventional diagnostics of hepatic lesions]. / Ultraschallgestützte Bildfusion mittels CT und MRT. Klinische Bedeutung für die bildgebende und interventionelle Diagnostik von Leberläsionen.

Abdominal ultrasound is often the first-line imaging modality for assessing focal liver lesions. Due to various new ultrasound techniques, such as image fusion, global positioning system (GPS) tracking and needle tracking guided biopsy, abdominal ultrasound now has great potential regarding detection, characterization and treatment of focal liver lesions. Furthermore, these new techniques will help to improve the clinical management of patients before and during interventional procedures. This article presents the principle and clinical impact of recently developed techniques in the field of ultrasound, e.g. image fusion, GPS tracking and needle tracking guided biopsy and discusses the results based on a feasibility study on 20 patients with focal hepatic lesions.

Multimodality treatment with conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of multimodality treatment consisting of conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with non-resectable and non-ablatable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: In this retrospective study, 85 consecutive patients with HCC (59 solitary, 29 multifocal HCC) received TACE followed by RFA between 2001 and 2010. The mean number of tumors per patient was 1.6 ± 0.7 with a mean size of 3.0 ± 0.9 cm. Both local efficacy and patient survival were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 120 treated HCCs, 99 (82.5%) showed a complete response (CR), while in 21 HCCs (17.5%) a partial response was depicted. Patients with solitary HCC revealed CR in 91% (51/56); in patients with multifocal HCC (n = 29) CR was achieved in 75% (48 of 64 HCCs). The median survival for all patients was 25.5 months. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 84.6, 58.7, 37.6 and 14.6%, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in survival between Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) A (73.4 months) and B (50.3 months) patients, while analyses failed to show a difference for Child-Pugh score, Cancer of Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score and tumor distribution pattern. CONCLUSION: TACE combined with RFA provides an effective treatment approach with high local tumor control rates and promising survival data, especially for BCLC A patients. Randomized trials are needed to compare this multimodality approach with a single modality approach for early-stage HCC.

Changes in normal liver and spleen volume after radioembolization with (90)Y-resin microspheres in metastatic breast cancer patients: findings and clinical significance.

PURPOSE: In clinical trials with yttrium-90-resin-microspheres for the management of colorectal cancer liver metastases, it was observed that radioembolization might result in splenomegaly and an increase in portal vein size. Subclinical hepatitis in normal liver tissue as well as the effects of radioembolization and prior chemotherapy are suspected to be responsible for this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to quantify the changes in liver and spleen volume and portal vein diameter after radioembolization. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with liver-dominant metastatic disease from breast cancer who had not responded to chemotherapy or had to abandon chemotherapy because of its toxic effects were evaluated. Changes in liver and spleen volume and portal vein diameter as well as liver tumor volume and diameter were quantified using computed tomography scans. RESULTS: Radioembolization was associated with a significant mean decrease in the whole liver volume of 10.2% (median 16.7%; P = 0.0024), mainly caused by a reduction in the right lobe volume (mean 16.0%; P < 0.0001). These changes were accompanied by a significant increase in the diameter of the main portal vein (mean 6.8%; P < 0.0001) as well as splenic volume (mean 50.4%; P < 0.0001). Liver-tumor volume and diameter decreased by a median of 24 and 39.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Radioembolization is an effective treatment for tumor size reduction in patients with breast cancer liver metastases. Treatment is associated with changes of hepatic parenchymal volume, splenic volume, and portal vein size that appear not to represent clinically important sequelae in this patient cohort.

Arterial therapies of non-colorectal cancer metastases to the liver (from chemoembolization to radioembolization).

Treatment of primary and secondary hepatic malignancies with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) represents an essential component of interventional oncology known for many years and performed by many interventional radiologists first in primary liver tumors and nowadays even in metastases of different origins. Radioembolization (RE) has been introduced to the clinical arsenal of cytoreductive modalities in recent years. There is growing evidence for efficiency in liver tumors of various entities, with the most prominent ones being hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors. Hepatic metastases of other tumor entities (breast cancer, malignant melanoma, and pancreatic cancer) are treatment-sensitive. This article focuses on procedural and technical aspects for selection, preparation, and performance of treatment as well as the results in metastatic breast cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, melanoma, and pancreatic cancer giving an overview of the results after RE, transarterial embolization, or TACE.

[Diagnosis and multimodal therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma]. / Diagnose und multimodale Therapie des hepatozellulären Karzinoms.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. The majority of HCCs develops on the basis of a chronic liver disease. This often complicates diagnosis and therapy. Non-invasive diagnostic criteria are based on dynamic imaging techniques and the serum level of AFP (alpha-fetoprotein). When evaluating HCC patients for therapy, besides tumor burden and localisation, the therapeutic evaluation must also consider the general condition of the patient and his/her liver function. For this purpose, the BCLC algorithm of the Barcelona Clinic for Liver Disease has proven helpful. Only one-third of the patients can be cured by resection, transplantation or local tumour ablation. In locally advanced cases transarterial procedures including transarterial chemoembolisation and radioembolisation are applied. HCC is a chemo-resistant tumour and chemotherapy is not accepted as standard of care in HCC. Sorafenib is the first systemic treatment with proven efficacy approved for the treatment of advanced and metastatic HCC. Interdisciplinary management of HCC patients is essential in order to provide every patient with the optimal therapy at his specific stage of disease.

[Radiological interventional procedures for the acute abdomen]. / Radiologisch-interventionelle Massnahmen beim akuten Abdomen.

In patients with acute thrombo-embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery, catheter-assisted thrombolytic therapy represents a procedure of increasing importance in addition to surgery and intensive care treatment. The thrombolytic drugs utilized for this purpose are urokinase, streptokinase and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA).Therapeutic embolization is predominantly used in the treatment of arterial bleeding from the gastro-intestinal tract, the liver, the intestines (due to an aneurysm or vascular malformation) and in bleeding from intestinal anastomoses. Polyvinyl alcohol particles, embospheres, gelfoam and microcoils can be utilized as embolic agents. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage and stent implantation are applied in patients with biliary obstructions caused by inoperable tumors of the gall bladder or bile ducts, of the pancreatic head or duodenum and by metastases located in the liver parenchyma or hepatic hilum.Image-guided percutaneous drainage is a valuable option in the management of abscesses in the peritoneal cavity; less common indications are lymphoceles, biliomas, urinomas, hematomas, necrosis and pseudocysts.

Radiofrequency ablation after selective internal radiation therapy with Yttrium90 microspheres in metastatic liver disease-Is it feasible?

This retrospective study analyzes, whether patients suffering from extensive hepatic metastatic disease treated with SIRT can become suitable candidates for RFA.Within 38 months 46 patients (26 female, 20 male; age 32-75 years) bearing an extensive hepatic metastatic disease were treated with SIRT. Patients suffered from metastases of breast cancer (16/46), colorectal cancer (CRC) (21/46), neuroendocrine (3/46), and other primary carcinomas (6/46). The indication for SIRT was otherwise untreatable metastases confined to the liver. Forty-three patients received single-session whole-liver radioembolization treatment using Yttrium90 resin microspheres with a mean activity of 2.13GBq. In 1 patient SIRT was confined to the left and in 2 patients to the right liver lobe. In 3 patients major complications (2/3 gastric ulceration and 1/3 oedematous pancreatitis) and in 24 patients minor complications occurred (acute abdominal/epigastric pain and/or nausea). Follow-up CT and/or MRI were obtained in 44 of 46 patients. In 5 of 44 patients tumor load decreased substantially (3/5 breast cancer, 1/5 CRC and 1/5 pancreatic cancer) making RFA feasible. The patients were referred for RFA after the first 3-month follow-up. RFA of the liver was successful in all cases in terms of complete ablation. In selected patients radioembolization is able to downstage liver metastases to an extent making a subsequent RFA suitable and therefore allows increasing the number of patients with a "complete response" after a minimally invasive therapy.

Interdisciplinary expert consultation via a teleradiology platform--influence on therapeutic decision-making and patient referral rates to an academic tertiary care center.

In addition to teleradiological reporting as a nighthawking or a regular service, teleradiological communication can be used for interdisciplinary expert consultation. We intended to evaluate an interdisciplinary consultation system based on a teleradiology platform with regard to its impact on therapeutic decision-making, directed patient referrals to an academic tertiary care center and the economic benefit for the hospital providing the service. Therefore, consultations from five secondary care centers and consecutive admissions to an academic tertiary care center were prospectively evaluated over a time period of six months. A total of 69 interdisciplinary expert consultations were performed. In 54 % of the cases the patients were consecutively referred to the university hospital for further treatment. In all acutely life-threatening emergencies (n = 9), fast and focused treatment by referral to the academic tertiary care center was achieved (average time to treat 130 min). The admissions to the academic tertiary care center led to improved utilization of its facilities with additional revenue of more than 1,000000 euro p. a. An interdisciplinary expert consultation via a teleradiology platform enables fast and efficient expert care with improved and accelerated patient management and improved utilization of the service providing hospital.