From the MHH

At the MHH: Health insurance companies pay for early detection of rare disease

Full-body MRI for screening in Li-Fraumeni syndrome now covered

A whole-body MRI is a valuable screening test for people with Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Source: "Karin Kaiser/MHH".

23.09.2022

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a rare genetic disorder associated with a greatly increased risk of various types of cancer. The genetic defect can lead to multiple occurrences of malignant tumors already in childhood. In order to be able to recognize the signs of cancer at an early stage and to treat the disease, structured early detection measures are extremely important for people with LFS. An annual whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is of great importance in this regard. Now there is good news: At the Hannover Medical School, this examination is now covered by statutory health insurance.

For a whole-body MRI examination, people diagnosed with Li-Fraumeni syndrome can contact the team of Professor Dr. Christian Kratz, Director of the Clinic for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. The experts can be reached by e-mail at PAO.LFS-CPS@mh-hannover.de or by phone at (0511) 532-9037. Whole-body MRI examinations are performed at the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology (Director: Professor Dr. Frank Wacker), where the contact person is Professor Dr. Diane Renz, Head of Pediatric Radiology.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome is one of the cancer disposition syndromes and is caused by a hereditary genetic alteration in the TP53 gene. Professor Kratz has been working on Li-Fraumeni syndrome for many years, and he is a globally networked scientist in the field.
 

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For more information, contact Professor Dr. Christian Kratz, kratz.christian@mh-hannover.de, phone (0511) 532-6712.