E³ 920a – The treated spine and joints, A-246 A. Imaging of the postoperative spine (P.N.M. Tyrrell)

A short preview of lecture E³ 920a’ The treated spine and joints’, from the session A-246 ‘A. Imaging of the postoperative spine’ at ECR 2014, given by P.N.M. Tyrrell from Oswestry, United Kingdom.

Watch the whole lecture and many more at http://ipp.myESR.org
Direct link: http://bit.ly/The_treated_spine_and_joints

Saturday, March 8, 10:30 – 12:00 / Room A

Abstract:

Spinal surgery is most frequently performed to decompress (disc herniation, stenosis, malignant infiltration), fuse and stabilise (particularly following trauma or infiltrative destructive processes) and correct deformity. Often, there may be a combination of these procedures at one operation. Surgical instrumentation or bone graft is sometimes employed. Patients may present themselves with symptoms early or late following the procedure. This interactive session seeks to address the variety of surgical procedures undertaken and subsequently imaged post-operatively because of symptoms. The session aims to help one to understand and become familiar with the expected post-operative imaging appearances related to the surgical procedure, learn about abnormal pathological features as a cause of symptoms in the acute and more chronic situation and explore the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. This may include post-operative fibrosis versus recurrent disc herniation versus post-operative infection. Failure of fusion due to failure of instrumentation or inadequate take of bone graft can give rise to pseudoarthrosis. Recurrent stenotic symptoms may relate to an inadequate decompression, recurrent disc herniation, post-operative haematoma, extension of a malignant process or ischaemic damage.

In the world of health awareness, the pink ribbon is probably one of the best known symbols there is. Supporters of charities and organisations promoting breast cancer awareness have been wearing the pink ribbon since 1992, when it was adopted as the official symbol of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the US. Since then, the pink ribbon has gone global, and is recognised as a symbol of support for breast cancer awareness in countries all around the world.

As the most common cause of cancer death among females worldwide, breast cancer is naturally always a part of the programme at the European Congress of Radiology. So to mark Pink Ribbon Day, we decided to pick out a few key sessions from our ECR On Demand archive, to highlight the vital role that medical imaging plays in the detection, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of breast cancer.

Watch the preview below and follow the links underneath to gain access to full lectures on our ECR On Demand platform.

Watch an extra long ECR on Demand preview clip about breast imaging:

Imaging after treatment of breast cancer – E³ 220, A 003 (M.H. Fuchsjäger)

Or check out the selected related lecture recordings below:

CC 1618 – Follow-up of local treatments of breast cancer:
Watch the whole ECR on Demand lectures here.

E3 420b – Mammography:
Watch the whole ECR on Demand lectures here.

E3 530b – Breast US:
Watch the whole ECR on Demand lectures here.

E3 620 – MRI of the breast:
Watch the whole ECR on Demand lectures here.

E3 720b – Image-guided breast biopsy:
Watch the whole ECR on Demand lectures here.

E3 820c – Multidisciplinary team meeting from Milan, IT:
Watch the whole ECR on Demand lectures here.

E2 920b – How to report:
Watch the whole ECR on Demand lectures here.

CC 718 – Imaging after systemic therapies: the standards, A-187 A. RECIST criteria (Y. Menu)

A short preview of lecture CC 718 ‘Imaging after systemic therapies: the standards’, from the session A-187 ‘A. RECIST criteria’ at ECR 2014, given by Y. Menu from Paris, France.

Watch the whole lecture and many more at http://ipp.myESR.org
Direct link: http://bit.ly/Imaging_after_systemic_…

Friday, March 7, 16:00 – 17:30 / Room Conf. Room M3

Abstract:

The routine practice of oncologic imaging requires standardisation, which means that we need to harmonise technical protocols and agree on the meaning of selected words for the radiological report. The words “Response, “Progression” and “Stable disease” are precisely defined according to internationally accepted thresholds and criteria. Although the rules are quite simple and rather easy to apply, they are very efficient in the classification of the response to treatment, and therefore for the medical decisions. However, the role of the radiologist is not limited to measurements and calculation. The detection of new lesions may be challenging and requires experience. The differential between cancer progression and complications of the treatment might be very difficult and requires an adequate communication with the referring clinician. Overall, most of the decisions taken by the clinician will be related to imaging results, stressing the importance of adequate protocols and reports.

With demand for imaging examinations constantly growing and patient radiation exposure rising, the need to improve medical radiation protection has never been greater.

EuroSafe Imaging, a flagship radiation protection initiative launched at ECR 2014, is the ESR’s timely response to this issue. An initial milestone of the campaign was reached with the recent publication of the EuroSafe Imaging Call for Action, an implementation strategy comprising 12 action items to contribute to achieving EuroSafe Imaging’s mission of promoting appropriateness, maintaining radiation doses within diagnostic reference levels, using the ALARA principle, promoting the use of up-to-date equipment, empowering patients, and joining forces with various stakeholders.

This mission is underpinned by two fundamental objectives: raising more awareness of radiation protection, and providing an overarching strategy to coordinate a multitude of stakeholders’ radiation protection efforts.

To capture the reasons for launching this initiative and its expected impact, the ESR has produced a video about EuroSafe Imaging that highlights the comprehensive approach of the campaign, with interviewees representing radiology, radiography, medical physics and international organisations.

Check out the video above to find out why it is important to communicate the various components of radiation protection to a wider audience, how EuroSafe Imaging can contribute to creating a new patient safety paradigm, and why this is just the right time for this initiative!

Don’t forget to join us in promoting patient safety by becoming a Friend of EuroSafe Imaging!

Sessions will look different at ECR 2015, to help participants make the most of the scientific and educational programme. ECR Today spoke with Professor Bernd Hamm from Berlin, Germany, who will preside over the congress next year, to find out what the biggest radiological meeting in Europe and the most modern one worldwide will look like in 2015.

ESR Office: What will be the main highlights of ECR 2015’s teaching programme?
Bernd Hamm: One of the major changes will be a restructuring of the session categories. Over the last few years, we kept adding new types of sessions, making it difficult for participants to find the sessions they are interested in and compile an efficient individual schedule. Apart from the Refresher Courses, which have become well established and accepted, we now offer most teaching courses under the heading of E³ – European Excellence in Education. These courses are now structured according to the different levels defined by the European Training Curriculum for Radiology. The E³ programme consists of the following five branches, which reflect the different levels of education in radiology, as well as the different stages of an individual’s professional career: Rising Stars, European Diploma Prep Sessions, The Beauty of Basic Knowledge, ECR Academies, and ECR Master Classes.

Prof. Bernd Hamm, professor of radiology and chairman of all three
merged departments of radiology at the Charité, Humboldt-
Universität zu Berlin and Freie Universität (Campus Mi e, Campus
Virchow-Klinikum, and Campus Benjamin Franklin).

The Rising Stars programme is directed at medical students with an interest in radiology, residents, and radiographers in training. The European Diploma Prep Sessions aim to provide preparatory sessions for future European Diploma in Radiology (EDiR) candidates. The content of the programme reflects level I and II of the European Training Curriculum. These courses are held in close cooperation with the European Board of Radiology (EBR). The Beauty of Basic Knowledge programme focuses on knowledge essential to the daily practice of radiology and is best suited to residents and board-certified radiologists. The ECR Academies consist of a series of sessions relevant to a particular area of radiology, and may be suited to general radiologists and radiologists with a subspecialisation. The content of ECR Academies mostly corresponds to level III of the European Training Curriculum. The ECR Master Classes are designed for participants and subspecialists seeking cutting-edge information in specific field of interest. During the ECR, one ECR Master Class is offered for each subspecialty in radiology (level III and beyond). This new structure of a major part of the teaching courses offered at the ECR results from intense exchange and excellent cooperation between the Congress Programme Planning Committee members.

ESR: What will the ECR Academies focus on?
BH: The ECR Academies in 2015 will focus on the new hot issues, such as hybrid imaging, image-guided interventions in oncology, and modern imaging of the GI tract. In addition, there will be sessions covering genitourinary radiology and our popular interactive teaching sessions focusing on different aspects of radiology.

Read more…

Euro-BioImaging will become a pan-European research infrastructure for biomedical imaging technologies. The project’s initial preparatory phase aiming at the development of the technical, legal, governmental and framework of Euro-BioImaging will end in mid-2014.

The results of the first Open call for Nodes

During the last year of the preparatory phase, Euro-BioImaging successfully carried out the first call for Nodes and finalised plans for its infrastructure model and user access policies.

In spring 2013, Euro-BioImaging published the first open call for Nodes, taking concrete steps towards the construction of a coordinated, open-access imaging infrastructure. Euro-BioImaging invited imaging facilities to submit their expressions of interest in becoming Euro-BioImaging Nodes. In total, 71 proposals for Euro-BioImaging Nodes were submitted by 221 institutions from 19 European countries. Fourteen proposals came from the medical imaging field and presented sound concepts for Nodes on Ultra-highfield MRI, MR/PET, population imaging and phase-contrast imaging. Ten proposals for molecular imaging were submitted.

Read more…

by Morton A. Meyers

In recognition of his great contributions to abdominal radiology and his insightful publications on the history of science and medicine, Prof. Morton A. Meyers from East Setauket, NY, United States, was invited to deliver the Samuil A. Reinberg Honorary Lecture entitled, ‘The Tempestuous Genesis of MRI: Credit and Discredit’ at ECR 2014.

Prof. Morton A. Meyers from East Setauket, NY, United States.

Prof. Morton A. Meyers is distinguished professor of radiology and medicine, as well as chairman emeritus of the department of radiology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook (SUNY). He is author of the critically acclaimed books; Prize Fight: The Race and Rivalry to be the First in Science and Happy Accidents: Serendipity in Modern Medical Breakthroughs.

His book, Happy Accidents, won the prestigious CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title award in 2009 for excellence in scholarship and presentation, significance of contribution to the field and value as an important treatment of the subject.

In addition to teaching at SUNY, Prof. Meyers has served as visiting professor at more than 70 medical schools around the United States. He has also been in great demand as a lecturer, having received invitations to lecture in Japan, South Africa, China, Israel, Canada, Mexico and throughout Europe, to name but a few places. He has also received a number of awards from national and international societies, as well as the Walter B. Cannon Medal of the Society of Abdominal Radiology. Notably, he delivered the Opening Lecture at ECR 2003, since which he is proud to serve as an Honorary Member of the ESR.

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by Alena Morrison

Prof. Gabriel P. Krestin has assumed the role of scientific director of the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR) after being nominated for the role during the organisation’s General Meeting on Saturday, March 8.

Committed to radiology research, Krestin worked with the ESR to establish EIBIR, which aims to foster and strengthen biomedical imaging research in Europe and has been involved with the organisation since its founding in 2006. He also recently served as chairman of the General Meeting. Since its inception, EIBIR has developed into a key platform for supporting research networking activities, spreading good practice and promoting common initiatives and interoperability in the field of biomedical imaging research. Stakeholders in the EIBIR network have also continued to grow and include European research institutes, shareholder organisations and industry partners.

ECR Today spoke with Krestin to hear some of his thoughts about EIBIR and his ideas for the future of the organisation.

ECR Today: Looking towards 2014, what activities and initiatives would you like to see begin this year?

Gabriel Krestin: We will have to strengthen the strategy and further extend the activities of EIBIR in the coming years. For now, I hope that at least some of the applications to the first call for proposals in the Horizon 2020 research funding framework of the EC will go into the second phase. That would keep the EIBIR office very busy in the coming months but would also give a new boost to EIBIR’s role as coordinator and administrator of biomedical imaging research in Europe. Furthermore, I hope that some new joint research initiatives will start in image-guided interventions, radiation therapy, paediatric imaging, and neuroimaging. Moreover, the intention is to set up a virtual contract research organisation that will enable multicentre imaging trials, initiated by researchers or by industry, to be performed.

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by John Bonner

MRI has opened up the human body for radiologists to explore with remarkable precision and to gather clinical information of enduring value for physician colleagues, but the liver has so far proved a real diagnostic challenge. A combination of the organ’s complex vasculature and motion effects in free-breathing patients have meant that other modalities have often been chosen instead of MRI, particularly when looking for metastases in oncology cases.

This situation is changing due to the efforts of imaging vendors who have been working on expanding the role of this technology in body imaging. Visitors to the commercial exhibition can inspect a new software application which improves temporal resolution in MR images along with other developments that make scans both safer and more comfortable for patients.

SIEMENS is unveiling a technology that it says will make contrast-enhanced liver imaging fast and robust and allow free-breathing dynamic liver imaging, giving more patients access to high quality MR-based abdominal imaging.

Siemens’ Twist-Vibe MR sequence is designed to enable correct contrast imaging in dynamic liver MRI, allowing fast, robust liver imaging with full 4-D coverage. This series of images shows how the new technology can boost lesion enhancement within the arterial phase: with Twist-Vibe, it is now possible to generate multiple stacks of images from the arterial phase to follow the lesion enhancement over time. (Provided by University Hospital IKRN, Mannheim, Germany)

Dr. Bernd Ohnesorge, chief executive of Siemens’ MR business unit, explained that the key software technologies underlying the company’s new Twist-Vibe and StarVibe features will be available together as a package called FREEZEit. The former is a sequence that offers high temporal and spatial resolution with full 4D coverage for multi-arterial imaging with 100% precise contrast-timing. Meanwhile, StarVibe is an application that delivers robust, free-breathing, and contrast-enhanced exams for non-compliant patients by resisting motion artefacts.

“These are acceleration techniques that allow us to do body and liver imaging at such high speed that it creates a genuine breakthrough in temporal resolution. So even in an organ as notoriously difficult to image as the liver, we can eliminate motion artefacts while also substantially enhancing contrast timing. Together that makes for a very accurate diagnosis,” he said.

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A-255 B. CT

J. Vilar | Saturday, March 9, 10:30 – 12:00 / Room A

Interpretation of chest images is fraught with errors. Confusing images may occur in chest CT and conventional radiography. Understanding the cause of the error and using some “ tricks” the radiologist may overcome these situations. Three aspects that may be of useful are: Gravity, Space and Time. Gravity may help the radiologist by using simple manoeuvres such as prone or lateral decubitus. Space relates to the location of the lesion. Upper or lower lobe locations are associated with certain pathologies. Time lapse is a major factor that may influence our diagnosis. Previous studies are essential. Fast growth or reduction of a lesion usually is associated with non-neoplastic disorders. Follow-up in acutely ill patients may be of great value and well as in lesions in oncologic patients. The lecture will present cases of variable difficulty where using these simple “tricks” the diagnostic problem can be solved.