The Department of Radiology

The Department of Radiology at the Max Grundig Klinik combines modern, high-performance diagnostics with streamlined processes and medical expertise—enabling well-founded decisions and targeted therapy.

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Without compromise, we rely on the very latest generation of medical imaging technology, enabling us to examine every region of the body. For the sharper and more detailed the image quality, the more precise the resulting analysis and diagnosis—even in cases of complex conditions. Furthermore, the sooner the underlying causes of an illness are identified, the greater the chances of a successful recovery through timely therapeutic intervention. Thus, working in concert with our other medical departments, our Radiology Department provides a vital foundation for further assessment and treatment planning within the broader medical context. Our diagnostic spectrum is further complemented by the minimally invasive therapies offered through interventional radiology.

We place particular emphasis on providing personal guidance throughout every examination, as well as on communicating findings in a manner that is transparent, detailed, and easy to understand. We are here to assist you with any questions you may have and serve as the primary point of contact for your treating specialist or family physician.

Your examination will take place in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, as we want you to feel completely at ease during your visit. Here, you will find a deep understanding of your personal situation, set against the backdrop of a breathtakingly beautiful environment in the heart of the Black Forest. In our Radiology Department, we offer you the true luxury of the Max Grundig Klinik: time dedicated to the individual.

Director of the Radiological Center

Prof. Dr. med. Peter Huppert completed his medical studies and his specialist training in radiology in Leipzig. His clinical and scientific areas of focus are interventional radiology, abdominal radiology, oncologic imaging, and cardiovascular radiology.

Prof. Huppert began his medical studies at the University of Leipzig in 1973.

In 1979, he received his medical license. He subsequently pursued specialist training in pathological anatomy and histology at the Institute of Pathology in Leipzig, and in radiology at the University’s Department of Radiology.

He completed his doctoral studies and was recognized as a specialist in radiology in 1984.
In 1984, he commenced his work as a specialist in radiology within the Division of Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Leipzig’s Department of Radiology; in 1989, he became a Senior Physician in the Division of Radiological Diagnostics at the University of Tübingen’s Department of Radiology. That same year, he completed his habilitation at the University of Tübingen’s Faculty of Medicine, where he was granted the authorization to teach as a *Privatdozent*.

From 1995 to 1998, he served as the Chief Senior Physician of the Division of Diagnostic Radiology in Tübingen, where he was awarded the title of “Adjunct Professor” (*außerplanmäßiger Professor*) by the University of Tübingen in 2004. From 1998 to 2019, he served as Chief Physician of the Institute of Radiology, Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine at Klinikum Darmstadt.

He has published a total of 145 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has contributed chapters to 15 monographs. Professor Huppert is also a certified DeGIR specialist in minimally invasive pain therapy. Offices and Memberships in Professional Societies:

Member of the German Radiological Society (DRG) since 1990
President of the 99th German Radiology Congress (2018) in Leipzig
Fellow of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) since 1992
Fellow of the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) since 1996
Member of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) since 2005
Member, and subsequently Co-opted Member, of the Board of the German Society of Interventional Radiology (DeGIR) since 2006

Discover our high-tech radiological diagnostics

Medical Technology

The medical technology of the radiology department is state of the art and enables imaging diagnostics with the highest precision. With the optimally equipped 3-Tesla high-field magnetic resonance imaging scanner (MRI) with a maximally wide opening and the Photon-Counting Computed Tomography scanner (CT), the radiology department of our clinic has two medical technology systems with unique features in the Central Baden region at its disposal. These form the technical basis for imaging of all organs and body regions with the best possible accuracy and minimised risk. They are complemented by a detector mammography unit, a bone density measuring station and a catheter workstation for minimally invasive interventional vascular and tumour treatments.

Medical Technology

Our Services

Exclusion or detection of findings suspicious for carcinoma and structural changes of the lung tissue, such as pulmonary emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, and pneumonia.
A standardized three-dimensional visualization of breast tissue—acquired both before and after the administration of a contrast agent—supplemented by diffusion imaging and dynamic contrast analysis. This technique is employed for the early detection of breast tumors and for the further investigation of suspicious findings identified via palpation or ultrasound. It represents the most accurate method currently available for confirming or ruling out malignant breast tumors. Women with an elevated familial risk of cancer, in particular, as well as those with high breast tissue density, benefit significantly from the high reliability of this method. For women with breast implants, MRI is the most suitable diagnostic modality, as breast compression must be avoided.
Cardiac MRI is the ideal method for further diagnostic evaluation in cases of suspected heart muscle diseases resulting from inflammation (myocarditis, sarcoidosis), scarring, or pathological deposits—such as abnormal proteins (amyloidosis) or iron. In cases of moderate to severe narrowing of the coronary arteries, so-called stress cardiac MRI is used to determine whether these stenoses lead to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle under physical stress. Based on these findings, a recommendation for interventional or surgical revascularization may be derived.
Angio-MRI, or MR angiography, is a procedure for the three-dimensional visualization of arterial and venous vessels. Its most common applications involve the visualization of the extracranial neck vessels supplying the brain, intracranial vessels, vessels within the abdominal cavity, and the pelvic and leg arteries in cases of suspected circulatory disorders.
Imaging of the entire body — specifically the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis—aimed at detecting significant structural abnormalities that have not yet presented symptoms. This examination employs a specialized methodology that optimally balances image quality with examination duration. By utilizing a 3-Tesla MRI scanner, it is possible to combine short examination times with high-quality imaging. A full-body examination takes approximately 35 minutes; if targeted imaging of specific body regions—such as the pancreas—is to be included, the total duration is approximately 60 minutes. Contrast medium is administered only in cases where abnormalities are detected, and typically during a separate, follow-up examination.

Additional Services

X-ray mammography is a two-dimensional projection technique used to visualize breast tissue, which in many cases suffices for screening purposes. In the Radiology Department of our clinic, the technically most advanced form—detector mammography—is available.
This procedure serves to detect reduced bone density at an early stage—specifically osteopenia—or at an advanced stage, such as osteoporosis. Furthermore, follow-up examinations allow for the monitoring of treatment outcomes or the progression of these changes. Measurements are taken at the lumbar spine and at one hip joint.
Interventional therapy comprises minimally invasive treatment procedures performed under local anesthesia via percutaneous punctures and using catheters. The primary areas of application are the treatment of peripheral circulatory disorders resulting from stenoses in the pelvic and leg vessels, as well as hepatic tumor diseases. The narrowed vessels are restored to full patency through balloon dilation and stent implantation. Inoperable tumor foci in the liver are selectively ablated—thereby halting their growth—by occluding the vessels that supply them.

In a confidential consultation, we will explore together which type of examination is suitable for you.

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Interventional treatment procedures have undergone numerous methodological and technical advances over the past two decades. In particular in the field of vascular medicine, they have become an attractive alternative to open surgical procedures for many patients; in other areas such as stroke treatment, oncology and pain therapy, they have significantly expanded the range of therapeutic options.

Frequently asked Questions

We aim to schedule appointments promptly; urgency and patient preference are the determining factors. In most cases, appointments are arranged immediately during the phone call. If you have not reached us directly, we will call you back. You can also send us an electronic message including your phone number to: radiologie@max-grundig-klinik.de; we will call you back in this case as well. Please have information ready indicating the reason and the specific question for the examination. This can typically be found on a referral slip, in a medical report, or sometimes on a prescription.
Typically, you may eat and drink as usual prior to radiological examinations. However, for your own comfort and to facilitate optimal image assessment, you should refrain from consuming large quantities of food or drink during the hour immediately preceding the examination. Prior to examinations of the abdominal region, you should consume only a small amount of solid food. If you have a known intolerance to contrast agents, you must refrain from consuming any solid food for three hours prior to the start of the examination. This matter must be clarified with us, either by telephone or in person.
For certain radiological examinations—specifically CT and MRI scans—the administration of a contrast agent is required to achieve the desired diagnostic results. Typically, this applies to all CT angiographies, all MR angiographies (with the exception of head scans), all MR mammographies, all cardiac MRIs, as well as the majority of examinations involving the abdomen and the prostate. For CT examinations, the contrast agent contains iodine, whereas for MRI examinations, it contains gadolinium. Prior to the administration of any contrast agent, kidney function must be assessed, as these agents are excreted from the body via the kidneys. We will therefore ask you about your “kidney values”—specifically, your creatinine level or your GFR (glomerular filtration rate). When using iodine-based contrast agents, it is also essential to verify that thyroid function is normal; we will therefore ask about your TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) level.
Since CT scans utilize X-rays, pregnant women may undergo such examinations only in urgent emergencies and following a rigorous assessment of the necessity and potential alternatives. MRI scans, conversely, are permissible for pregnant women; however, in these cases as well, a compelling medical indication for the examination must exist. As a general rule, contrast agents should not be administered to breastfeeding mothers; if their use is deemed indispensable for a CT or MRI scan, breastfeeding must be discontinued following the examination.
The entire examination, including preparations, takes between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on the type of examination. The actual CT scan itself takes less than one minute. The CT scanner consists of a ring and is not designed like a tube. During the examination, patients lie comfortably on an examination table that moves through the ring while the images are being acquired.
During an MRI examination, several — sometimes numerous — series of individual images are acquired consecutively; these are known as “sequences.” Each individual sequence takes 2–3 minutes. Consequently, a complete MRI examination lasts between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the body region being examined and the specific type of examination. In addition, approximately 5–10 minutes are required for preparation and patient positioning.

High-field MRI scanners are invariably designed with a tunnel-like structure. Our 3-Tesla MRI system features the widest possible tunnel opening, measuring 70 cm in diameter. Open MRI systems possess significantly lower field strengths, resulting in substantially reduced tissue contrast and less diagnostic information within the images compared to high-field systems.
Our MRI scanner is equipped with various audio-visual aids designed to help you overcome claustrophobia — such as music played through headphones and movies displayed via a mirror. Furthermore, patients frequently find the large diameter of our scanner to be a source of relief. Should these aids prove insufficient, we have medications available to promote relaxation during the examination and induce mild drowsiness. Please note, however, that after receiving such medication, you must not operate a motor vehicle (or machinery) unsupervised for the remainder of the day; therefore, if you require this medication, please ensure you are accompanied by a suitable companion.
Nowadays, an MRI examination is possible for most patients with a pacemaker or defibrillator — even in a 3-Tesla scanner. To undergo such a procedure, however, certain prerequisites must be met; we verify these requirements based on your implant documentation and during a preliminary consultation with a cardiologist. The most critical requirement is that the pacemaker or defibrillator possesses so-called “MRI compatibility.” This status is indicated in the accompanying documentation—for instance, in your pacemaker ID card. Immediately prior to the MRI scan, a cardiologist at our clinic will switch the pacemaker or defibrillator into “MRI mode”; directly after the examination, it will be reprogrammed back to its original operating mode. We will organize these procedures for you in advance. For patients with such implants, a minor residual risk of implant malfunction remains, despite all precautionary measures. Therefore, there must be a compelling medical justification for the necessity of the MRI examination.

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Coverage of Costs

Provided that a declaration of cost coverage is in place, private comprehensive insurance providers typically cover the full cost of necessary radiological treatments.

As patients covered by supplementary government health schemes (Beihilfe) may incur residual costs, we recommend that you inquire with your Beihilfe office in advance to determine which costs will be covered. Our radiology team is happy to assist you with any questions you may have.

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