Hugo Krayenbühl at the Neurosurgery Department of the USZ, source: AfM PSf_gf PN 222.
Over the years,
several well-known experts have initiated and promoted the field of Neuroradiology
at the University Hospital of Zurich:
- Hugo Krayenbühl (Neurosurgeon)
- M. Gazi Yaşargil (Neurosurgeon)
- Ugo Fisch (Skull-base surgeon)
- Günter Baumgartner (Neurologist)
- Konrad Akert (Brain Researcher)
The former clinic
director, Prof. Antonios Valavanis, expanded the clinical services, teaching
activities and research at the USZ from the 1980s until the current day, building
up the current clinical neuroscientific discipline along the way. In 2018, Prof.
Christoph Stippich took over as department head and academic chair.
Today, the Department
of Neuroradiology uses sophisticated imaging methods for structural and
functional diagnostics. Moreover, it offers interventional procedures for
minimally invasive, image-guided treatment of diseases of the central nervous
system and its appendages. Both disciplines (diagnostic and interventional
neuroradiology) are applied in adults and children.

The
most important historical landmarks at the USZ:
1965 | The
neurosurgeons H. Krayenbühl and M. G. Yaşargil introduce the term
"neuroradiology" at the USZ and define it in their textbook "Cerebral
Angiography” as a specialty within the neurological sciences. |
1977 | Commissioning
the first skull computer tomograph (CT) at the USZ |
1979 |
First catheter-based embolization of a vascular malformation of the
brain at the USZ
Introduction of Interventional
Neuroradiology |
1984 | First
superselective intraarterial fibrinolysis treatment for stroke |
1985 |
Commissioning the first magnetic resonance tomograph (MR) at the USZ
Introduction of Neuroimaging
The Chair of Neuroradiology
is created at the University of Zurich. |
1992 | First treatment of a brain aneurysm with the novel method of coiling.
First international
"Zurich Course on Interventional Neuroradiology" at the USZ, which was
subsequently held annually for many years. |
1994 | The Chair for Neuroradiology is created at the Faculty of Medicine of
the University of Zurich and the Institute of Neuroradiology is set up at the
USZ.
Introduction of carotid
stenting for the treatment of high-grade, symptomatic carotid stenoses. |
1995 | The
neuroendovascular research laboratory is founded. |
1998 | The
research groups "Neuroimaging" and "Neurointervention" of
the Institute of Neuroradiology are included in the newly founded Neuroscience
Center of the University of Zurich and ETH. |
2010 | As
part of the new umbrella strategy of the USZ, the institute is renamed "Department
of Neuroradiology" and is assigned to the sectors Neuro-Head (primary
medical area) and Imaging Procedures (secondary medical area). Introduction
of mechanical thrombectomy procedures for the treatment of stroke. |
2012 | The
MR center NORD opens and is equipped with three high-field (3 Tesla) magnetic
resonance tomography systems and a neurosurgical intraoperative MR system. |
2014 | Foundation
of the USZ Clinical Neurocenter as a collaboration of the three clinics Neurology,
Neuroradiology and Neurosurgery. |
2018 | Professor
Christoph Stippich takes over as Department head and academic chair. |