The Guest Editor of this issue’s Feature Section, Thomas Helmberger, M.D., Ph.D., (Fig. 1) has had a meteoric trajectory in an international academic career with major scientific and administrative contributions. From the age of 47, with a background of training in both Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Radiology, he serves as Professor of Radiology and Director of the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Neuroradiology and Nuclear Medicine of the Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Munich. A prolific author, he has brought insight and a vast experience to cutting-edge advances. These include imaging strategies in oncology of solid tumors of the abdomen, interventional therapy and oncology of hepatic and extrahepatic tumors, and minimal invasive techniques for tumor ablation. He is a leader in defining the diagnostic efficiency of MRI with and without tissue-specific contrast material in comparison to CT. Among memberships in a host of prestigious national and international societies, he is founding and current president of the German Society of Interventional Radiology (DeGIR).

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Professor Thomas Helmberger

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Abdominal Imaging is honored that Professor Helmberger has undertaken this Feature Section on the topic of “State-of-the-art and current developments in local tumor therapy.” He has compiled an outstanding presentation by leading experts that reinforce the critical role of interventional radiology in daily practice.