FKKD Clinical Complex
About the clinic
The FKKD Clinical Complex is the largest network of medical institutions in Düsseldorf.
It includes its own rehabilitation facility — St. Mauritius Rehabilitation Clinic.
The complex specializes in the treatment of elderly patients with severe comorbidities, offering individualized, gentle cancer therapy programs.
FKKD was established through the merger of several major Catholic medical institutions: Marien Oncology Hospital, St. Augusta Cardiology Center, St. Vincent’s Hospital, the Center for Geriatrics, the West German Diabetes and Health Center (WDGZ), and the St. Mauritius Rehabilitation Clinic. This merger enabled the complex to provide a full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic services, particularly in the field of oncology.
The Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic, and Endocrine Surgery is headed by Prof. Dr. Matthias Schauer, a thoracic surgeon recognized as Germany’s Best Doctor in 2021 by FOCUS magazine. He and his team specialize in esophageal cancer, focusing on early detection and advanced surgical treatment options.
Diseases of the stomach and duodenum are diagnosed using standard gastroscopy. For small and large intestine diagnostics, FKKD employs capsule endoscopy: a small video capsule is swallowed by the patient, passing painlessly through the gastrointestinal tract and capturing high-resolution images, which are crucial for identifying gastrointestinal disorders.
The clinic also uses endoscopic surgery for tumor laser excision, polyp removal, and even esophageal stent placement.
The Hepatology Department treats thousands of patients annually with viral hepatitis. Access to the latest antiviral drugs in Germany significantly slows the progression of liver fibrosis, particularly in hepatitis C. The introduction of sofosbuvir has reduced the need for liver transplants by 40%, allowing patients to retain their own organ.
Currently, 28 clinical trials are being conducted at FKKD for the development of new anticancer drugs. Among them are targeted therapies with bevacizumab and sunitinib.
For radiotherapy, the complex is equipped with three state-of-the-art linear accelerators. Individually dosed radiation precisely destroys cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues.
The Department of Radiology offers Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Interstitial prostate carcinoma therapy (LDR and HDR brachytherapy), High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), Radiofrequency Thermal Tumor Ablation (RITA).
For the treatment of blood cancers and lymphomas in children, FKKD follows standardized German protocols ABVD and BEACOPP, which show excellent therapeutic response. Since radiotherapy options for children are limited, modern protocols are crucial.
Today, leukemia is considered a curable disease, and FKKD specialists employ bone marrow aspiration biopsy for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
