Detail

Keywords

Cardiac Imaging Techniques; Radiology, Interventional

Research group(s)

• Cardiovascular Imaging and Endovascular Therapy
  Head: Martin Funovics
  Research Area: Clinical and theoretical research about endovascular therapies with special focus on endovascular aortic therapy. Imaging of the cardiovascular system focussing on the indications and effects of endovascular therapies, including imaging of endovascular implants.
  Members:
  Theresa-Marie Dachs
  Maximilian Philipp Kern
  Sven Rudolf Hauck
  Maxilian Hoffner
  Martin Funovics

Research interests

My research focuses on advancing cardiovascular imaging techniques and exploring sustainability in interventional radiology. I investigate the diagnostic performance of computed tomography angiography (CTA) for coronary artery disease assessment in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients, combining CTA with coronary artery calcium scoring to enhance diagnostic accuracy and potentially reduce invasive angiography. Additionally, I explore novel imaging technologies like photon-counting detector CT for visualizing in-stent restenosis in peripheral arterial disease. My work compares ultra-high-resolution photon-counting CT to conventional energy-integrating detector CT, examining image quality, artifact reduction, and stenosis measurement accuracy. In my master's thesis, I quantified and analyzed resource consumption and packaging waste in interventional radiology, focusing on endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) procedures. This study examined weight proportions, recycling potential, and packaging intensity of single-use materials, contributing to sustainability research in interventional radiology. Through this multifaceted approach, I aim to develop more precise, less invasive diagnostic approaches in cardiovascular interventions while addressing the environmental impact of medical procedures. My goal is to improve patient care, procedural efficiency, and sustainability in interventional cardiology and radiology.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

Dual Energy CT. Photon-counting CT. Angiography.

Selected publications

1. Dachs, T.-M. et al. (2024) ‘In-Stent Restenosis in Peripheral Arterial Disease: Ultra-High-Resolution Photon-Counting Versus Third-Generation Dual-Source Energy-Integrating Detector CT Phantom Study in Seven Different Stent Types’, CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-024-03874-y.
2. Malebranche, D. et al. (2022) ‘Diagnostic performance of quantitative coronary artery disease assessment using computed tomography in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic-valve implantation’, BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 22(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-022-02623-8.
3. Peters, A.A. et al. (2021) ‘Performance of an AI based CAD system in solid lung nodule detection on chest phantom radiographs compared to radiology residents and fellow radiologists’, Journal of Thoracic Disease, 13(5), pp. 2728–2737. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21037/jtd-20-3522.
4. Hoffner, M.K.M. et al. (2020) ‘Solitärer fibröser Tumor der Pleura visceralis im rechten Unterlappen’, RöFo - Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet der Röntgenstrahlen und der bildgebenden Verfahren, 193(04), pp. 463–466. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1224-4279.