Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. med. Thomas J. Vogl

When it comes to diagnostic and interventional radiology, there is one outstanding specialist in German-speaking countries: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Vogl is well known among experts as the author of standard works and trend-setting publications as well as the developer of new procedures. For example, he and his team have made decisive progress with the development of an angiography robot. The well-being of patients is always at the center of his work.

As Director of the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology of the University Hospital Frankfurt and as Professor for X-ray Diagnostics of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Vogl has extensive experience in his special fields. His highly regarded work in the field of interventional oncology and vascular procedures has earned him an international reputation.

His research resulted in worldwide optimization of procedures and surgical methods. He was involved intensively in the evaluation of contrast agents - and further developed existing X-ray procedures with his competent, highly experienced team of specialists.

Robot-based angiography: optimized intervention procedures

In particular, the angiography robot that Professor Vogl and his team helped to develop means hope for many cancer patients. This innovative device delivers high-resolution images from the inside of the body, enabling the detection of previously undiscovered tumors. This is the main advantage of this fascinating innovation: Small metastases, which are otherwise difficult to detect, can be clearly identified - and can then be directly bombarded with an active substance using a small catheter. The clear imaging also prevents additional injuries and reduces risks to a minimum.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Vogl regularly uses his angiography robot in interventions at the Frankfurt University Hospital. His patients thus have the opportunity to follow the surgery while fully conscious. The system makes this possible in a particularly fascinating way. For the director of the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at the University Hospital in Frankfurt, this closes a circle: Patient care is always at the top of Prof. Vogl's list of priorities, from treatment planning to aftercare.

In addition, the university hospital is one of the first centers worldwide to have a 3D camera on a computer tomography device. This upgrade, which is based on artificial intelligence methods, enables the use of a lower X-ray dose, better image quality and faster examination procedures. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are examples of the future-oriented research that Prof. Vogl and his team are intensively pursuing.

Highest scientific standards

Providing radiological care at the highest scientific level is a major concern of Prof. Vogl. All current criteria of radiation safety are observed precisely and conscientiously - for the protection of patients as well as for the benefit of his highly qualified team. Everyone in the team knows this: in specialist areas such as radiotherapy and nuclear medicine, quality control is particularly important.

Even though the highly specialized team stands for the consistently high quality, the first-class technical equipment with optimized precision is of course also very important for the medical success at the university hospital in the Main metropolis. For example, the team works with sonography equipment whose frequency ranges can be adapted to specific tasks - for the best results in ultrasound diagnostics. The institute also has one of the first HIFU devices in the whole of Germany: This highly intensely focused ultrasound heats up inoperable tumors by bundling sound waves - and specifically destroys the respective tissue.

Always important: interdisciplinary professional information exchange

As head of the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Vogl is always interested in professional exchange - also interdisciplinary. On the one hand, he relies on the best communication within the team of radiological assistants and specialists, and on the other that all employees benefit from the expertise from other fields. In addition to the productive exchange of experience with numerous institutions and specialists, additional training on an international level also plays a role in maintaining the quality of medical care at the highest level.

Since 2018, the University Hospital Frankfurt under the direction of Prof. Vogl and his colleague Prof. Ingo Marzi (Director of the Clinic for Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery) has been an official cooperation partner of the German Football Association (DFB). In implementing the "DFB Academy" project, Prof. Vogl and his staff focus on medical care for professional athletes as well as research, studies and further training.

Prof. Vogl owes his reputation to many aspects. Whether it is his books and professional articles, his research in a wide variety of scientific fields or his successes in tumor treatment, for example - several scientific awards prove his expertise. His memberships in international associations, committees and institutions also attest to this. Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Vogl is also in great demand as a professional adviser for scientific publications.