Every Scientific Session at ECR 2015 includes a vote for the best paper of the session. Below are all of the winners for Thursday, March 5. Congratulations to all of the winners!

Winner: SS 601a – B-0426 Christian Grieser
Winner: SS 602 – B-0444 Ruxandra-Iulia Milos
Winner: SS 605 – B-0455 Maria Twomey
1st Winner: SS 601b – B-0460 Evelien F.W. Gryspeerdt
2nd Winner: SS 601b – B-0464 Sophie Lombardi
Winner: SS 603a – B-0468 Giulia Benedetti
Winner: SS 615 – B-0482 Juana María Plasencia Martínez
Winner: SS 610a – B-0487 Silvia Mariani
1st Winner: SS 611 – B-0507 Judith Gadde
2nd Winner: SS 611 – B-0509 Chi Long Ho
Winner: SS 616 – B-0518 Alessandra Casiraghi
Winner: SS 612 – B-0526 Carola V. Pul
Winner: SS 604 – B-0537 Kaman Chung
Winner: SS 609 – B-0548 Aglaé Velasco
Winner: SS 607a – B-0559 Borna K. Barth
Winner: SS 610b – B-0567 Ruud H.H. Wellenberg
Winner: SS 608 – B-0583 Patrick Asbach
1st Winner: SS 607b – B-0590 Jung Myung Kim
2nd Winner: SS 607b – B-0591 Tümay Bekci
Winner: SS 603b – B-0603 Marcello Petrini
Winner: SS 701a – B-0607 Zsofia D. Drobni
1st Winner: SS 702 – B-0619 Matthias Dietzel
2nd Winner: SS 702 – B-0624 Hildebrand Dijkstra
Winner: SS 715 – B-0630 Vladimir Aznaurov
Winner: SS 710 – B-0646 Frank W. Roemer
Winner: SS 711 – B-0658 Aram S. Tonoyan
Winner: SS 716 – B-0666 Souhail Bennani
Winner: SS 713 – B-0680 Andreas Stratis
Winner: SS 704 – B-0690 Jong Hyuk Lee
Winner: SS 709a – B-0701 Christina Loberg
Winner: SS 707 – B-0706 Derya Yakar
1st Winner: SS 709b – B-0721 Vanessa Acosta Ruiz
2nd Winner: SS 709b – B-0723 Giovanni Mauri
1st Winner: SS 708 – B-0728 Stefan M. Niehues
2nd Winner: SS 708 – B-0730 Moritz H. Albrecht
Winner: SS 701b – B-0743 Martina Pancot
Winner: SS 703 – B-0746 Paul Stolzmann

Watch this session on ECR Live: Thursday, March 5, 16:00–17:30, Room L1
Tweet #ECR2015L1 #PC8B

Imaging large cohorts of people enables scientists to collect information useful for science and emphasises radiology’s role in healthcare. From the most recently available imaging biomarkers to data such as genomics and metabolomics, Thursday’s dedicated Professional Challenges Session will show just how useful population imaging studies have become in the prognosis of countless diseases.

When radiologists follow a cohort of people for 20 or 30 years, the benefits for the patient increase tremendously. If a radiologist performs a CT examination of a patient’s coronary arteries and finds calcification, chances are that the patient will have a heart attack within the next few years. Unfortunately at this stage, the patient is usually out of the radiologist’s reach.

The fluid-attenuated inversion recovery axial image of a 26-year-old female participant shows multiple, bilateral, asymmetric, linear and ovoid hyperintensities that are located perpendicular callososeptal characteristic of multiple sclerosis

However, if patients chose to participate in a population study, they will be checked on a regular basis, and radiologists will be able to access previous information and initiate appropriate treatment earlier, significantly
improving patient outcome.

Securing imaging data is always tricky and population imaging studies are an opportunity for radiologists to access this data. Showing the relevance of imaging findings highlights radiology’s role in the medical continuum, according to Prof. Norbert Hosten, of the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University in Greifswald, Germany, who will chair
the session Thursday.

“Our way to prove that radiology can make people healthier and happier is to do large population imaging studies. Radiology can develop the kind of data that are necessary to prove that our methods really help the patient,” he said.

Read more…

Watch this session on ECR Live: Thursday, March 5, 8:00–10:00, Room E2
Tweet #ECR2015E2 #PC5A

Radiology is changing. Its possibilities are expanding; its place in healthcare has evolved. However, it has also become more vulnerable to financial turmoil. The future of the profession will depend on how radiologists decide to act and how well they can cope with external factors, a panel of experts will explain during today’s Professional Challenges Session at the ECR.

Prof. Gabriel Krestin,
from Erasmus MC,
University Medical Center
Rotterdam, will
speak about upcoming challenges
for radiologists in today’s session.

The emergence of quantitative imaging and the development of imaging biomarkers are transforming the face of radiology. An increasing number of biomarkers are being validated and accepted as measures for prognosis, diagnosis or therapy monitoring. The transition from research to clinical practice has started in many areas, and clinical radiologists have become aware of this evolution. They must learn how to use these new tools, but it is tempting to resist change, especially when it brings extra work, according to Prof. Gabriel Krestin, professor and chairman of the department of radiology at Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

“Radiologists don’t like to perform measurements in daily practice because they are not used to it. They haven’t been trained for that and it’s time consuming. For instance, if you do a cardiac examination, extracting quantitative data from that examination takes up to 30 minutes, so you need dedicated personnel to do that – preferably radiographers. The workflow of the radiologist could be seriously disrupted if he/she had to perform such extensive post-processing of images, and the consequence would be a decrease in efficiency, particularly because nobody pays for the additional measurements,” he said.

Read more…

Every Scientific Session at ECR 2015 includes a vote for the best paper of the session. Below are all of the winners for Wednesday, March 4 (including a tie for session SS 217). Congratulations to all of the winners!

SS 201a – B-0009 Jeong Min Lee
SS 202a – B-0017 Eimear A. Joyce
SS 206 – B-0029 Johannes Grueneisen
SS 201b – B-0034 Aman Wadhwani
SS 203a – B-0055 Michelle C. Williams
SS 215 – B-0061 Alvaro M. Morales Vargas
SS 210 – B-0067 David J. Wilson
SS 211a – B-0077 Martin Lillholm
SS 216 – B-0097 Ali Sabri
SS 213 – B-0107 Sonja Gordic
SS 202b – B-0113 Marcus Lobbes
SS 209 – B-0121 Alessandro Posa
SS 207 – B-0140 Valeria Vinci
SS 214 – B-0145 Susanne H. Kivistö
SS 208 – B-0154 Karolina Markiet
SS 212 – B-0168 Wieying Kuo
SS 203b – B-0174 Francesco Laffranchi
SS 217 – B-0193 Claudia Frellesen
SS 217 – B-0194 Aman Wadhwani
SS 211b – B-0203 Desirée H.J.L. Koopmanschap
SS 302a – B-0210 Amro N.J. Masarwah
SS 301a – B-0219 Ankur Arora
SS 302b – B-0231 Nuala A. Healy
SS 305 – B-0244 Esther E. Bron
SS 301b – B-0258 Jens Maier
SS 303a – B-0266 Mihály Károlyi
SS 315 – B-0278 Michael Rasper
SS 310 – B-0282 Georgina M. Allen
SS 311a – B-0299 M. Ihab S. Reda
SS 316 – B-0314 Andrea Contegiacomo
SS 313 – B-0315 David J. Lurie
SS 304 – B-0329 Wouter J. Heerink
SS 309 – B-0347 Francesco Arrigoni
SS 307 – B-0356 Matthias Haas
SS 314 – B-0358 Erica Buttigieg
SS 308 – B-0377 Hillel S. Maresky
SS 312 – B-0385 Charlotte M. Nusman
SS 303b – B-0394 Thomas Elgeti
SS 317 – B-0408 Max E.R. Marsden
SS 311b – B-0418 Maria Correia de Verdier

Watch this session on ECR Live: Wednesday, March 4, 16:00–17:30, Room E2
Tweet #ECR2015E2 #PC4A

Remember HAL 9000, the murderous computer in ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’? This scenario doesn’t seem too far off when it comes to radiologists and the constant evolution of their technology. Luckily, they can still stay in control if they change their behaviour and remain at the head of the imaging process, experts will argue during a Professional Challenges session today at the ECR.

Radiologists must claim their place in the medical team if they are to survive. They must come out of the shadows and show that they can bring added value to the team, according to Jim Reekers, professor of interventional radiology at the University of Amsterdam, who will chair the session.

Jim Reekers, from the
University of Amsterdam, will
chair the session on the role of the
radiologist.

“I want to make my colleagues aware that they should step out of their offices and act as doctors who work in multidisciplinary teams. Being the photographers or doctors who only give a report with a picture will not secure their future and the reason is very simple: anybody can make and look at a picture nowadays. The difference the radiologist brings is that he or she can give an interpretation of the picture within the context of a patient’s clinical situation. So the radiologist should become a doctor who gets involved with the patient’s situation,” he said.

There is more than one way to do this. For starters, to be on the same level as clinicians, radiologists must behave as such. That means they have to do more than just show the images in multidisciplinary team meetings, they have to sit and discuss them with the doctors.

“Have a junior show the images for you. While my junior presents the pictures, I am sitting together with the other specialists, and suggesting treatment and follow-up options or further diagnostic investigation. It is important to sit with the other doctors. There’s a big difference in how people see me. I’m one of them instead of being the guy who shows the pictures,” Reekers said.

Read more…

Watch this session on ECR Live: Wednesday, March 4, 08:30–10:00, Room E1
Tweet #ECR2015E1 #SF1B

Hearing loss can present many difficulties and obstacles to sufferers, and with ageing populations it’s set to become a major healthcare challenge. Many conditions such as congenital malformation of the inner ear or hypoplastic cochlear nerve can also lead to hearing loss, and sometimes deafness.

Fortunately, many new treatments are available to recover hearing, both partially and completely. Imaging plays an increasingly important role in therapy planning and follow-up, and there is hope on the research front, experts will show during a dedicated Special Focus session on Wednesday morning.

Microtia – congenital anomaly of external and middle ear, resulting in
conductive hearing loss. External auditory canal is not patent (arrow),
mastoid process is underdeveloped (arrowhead)

The prevalence of auditory problems in the Western world has doubled over the past 30 years. It is estimated that between 15 and 17% of the population will suffer hearing loss, due to ageing or congenital malformation, but also bad habits, according to Agnieszka Trojanowska, a radiologist at Lublin University Medical School, Poland, who will
chair the session.

“We start to see young adults in their early 30s with sensorineural hearing loss or other related problems because of high frequency noise, which is typical for listening to music. Twenty years ago, such a condition was linked with working in fabrics or on the street. But the good news is that even if you use your iPod a lot, the degree of hearing
loss is light to moderate, so this is not something that will considerably affect your life,” she said.

Read more…

One thing you can say about the ECR is that every year there is always something new. The ESR loves to innovate, and this year is a great example of that, with a number of changes in place that will make ECR 2015 an even better congress experience than before. Here we take you through some of the most important new additions, as well as a couple of other vital things to take note of.

The ESR Walk of Fame, in the entrance hall at ECR 2015, features some of the stars of the society’s first ten years

1. The ESR’s Tenth Anniversary
The European Society of Radiology was founded in February 2005, so we’re celebrating our tenth anniversary at the ECR. This will be most noticeable in the entrance hall, where you’ll be able to take the ESR Walk of Fame, featuring the stars of the ESR’s first ten years, as well as some of the society’s brightest moments. You’ll also be able to collect your own star from the membership desk (in front of the big flower pot) and stick it to our ESR Wall of Fame

2. Electronic Evaluation
This year, ECR session evaluation and CME acquisition has gone completely digital, saving a huge amount of paper and making the whole system a lot more flexible. Delegates can now complete an online questionnaire for every session, which is accessible via the official ECR 2015 App (available from Tuesday, March 3), on more than 160 laptops in the ECR Live & EPOS Lounge, at the registration counters, and at special CME & Evaluation terminals on the first level.

3. New Session Formats
The number of different educational session types has grown and grown over the years. This year, the programme has been simplified, with the majority now grouped under the heading E³ – European Excellence in Education and divided into five branches reflecting the different stages of an individual’s professional career. Congress President, Prof. Bernd Hamm explains the concept here.

4. Best Paper Awards
Not only are there more scientific sessions this year, but at the end of each one, smartphones and mobile device users will be able to vote for their favourite presentation via an online voting tool. The most popular presentation will be awarded a certificate by the session moderators.

The ESR is launching its new eLearning platform at ECR 2015

5. Education On Demand
The ESR is launching its brand new eLearning platform Education On Demand at ECR 2015. The platform is packed with online educational resources to suit radiologists at every stage of their career, but most significantly for attendees, it also hosts the self-assessment tests for numerous E3 sessions (see point 1, above) at the congress. Bookmark learn.myesr.org and prepare to assess yourself!

6. ECR Live
Just as last year, more than 1,500 presentations will be streamed online during the congress, completely free of charge via ECR Live. And, just like last year, most of those presentations will also be available to watch on demand from the following day onward. Whether you couldn’t make it to Vienna and want to keep up with what’s going on at Europe’s biggest imaging meeting, or you’re at the congress and want to catch something you missed, there’s just one place you need to go: live.myesr.org

7. Social Media Wall
Once again, the ECR Social Media Wall brings all ECR-related social media activity together in one place. Every time someone uses the #ECR2015 hashtag on Twitter, that tweet will appear on all of the many screens throughout the congress venue, as well as the online stream. Plus, we again have an individual wall for every room being streamed on ECR Live. To join the conversation in any room, just add the room name to the hashtag (e.g. #ECR2015B, #ECR2015D1, #ECR2015MB5) or use ECR Live’s integrated chat function.

Dear Friends of the ECR,

With the European Congress of Radiology 2015 now just around the corner, I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am. As an attendee of every ECR over the last 25 years, I have seen the meeting evolve significantly. I have watched the crowds in the entrance hall and the audiences in the lecture rooms swell to a point where the ECR now regularly attracts more than 20,000 participants. I am confident that this year will be no exception, because the ECR’s deserved reputation is not only for high scientific quality but also for constant innovation in science, education, interactivity, and networking.

Many of you will already have received your congress badge in the post and will be patiently waiting for the moment you can proudly display it as you walk into the Austria Center Vienna. A lot of you have hopefully also made use of the Interactive Programme Planner to browse the sessions and posters on offer at ECR 2015 and to start planning your visit. If you’re not attending in person, you can still use it to start planning your online viewing, as most of the sessions will again be available on our streaming platform, ECR Live.

ECR 2015 Congress President, Prof. Bernd Hamm, from Berlin, Germany

An important development this year, which I hope will help to make that planning even easier, is the restructuring of the session formats. Most of the educational sessions at the ECR are now grouped under the heading of E³ – European Excellence in Education, and they are now arranged according to the different levels defined by the European Training Curriculum for Radiology. Here, I would like to introduce you to the five branches of the E³ programme, which reflect the different levels of education in radiology, as well as the different stages of an individual’s professional career:

Rising Stars
The Rising Stars programme is already well established at the ECR; it is a series of sessions prepared especially for residents, medical students, and radiographers in training. This year there are six basic sessions, four student sessions and four different hands-on workshops on ultrasound within the Rising Stars programme.
View the Rising Stars programme in the Interactive Programme Planner > here

Read more…

This month we’re offering you a third and final chance to win free registration for ECR 2015, Europe’s biggest and best imaging meeting. Simply leave your answer to the question below, as a comment on this post, before January 26 (comments now closed). All correct answers will be entered into a draw and a winner will be selected by the editor of ESR News. The answer and winner will be announced by the end of January. Please note that the competition is open to ESR members only.

Question: Which is the most likely diagnosis?

A: Partial tear anterior cruciate ligament
B: Mucoid degeneration anterior cruciate ligament

Click here to reveal the answer

Congratulations to the winner of this month’s competition, Dr. Victor Konikov, who recieves free registration for ECR 2015!

Thank you to all participants and well done to those who got the correct answer. Keep an eye out for the February issue of ESR News and your chance to win a new ESOR-related prize.

The winners of the TMC Radiology Quality Award 2014 from the Silkeborg Clinic (Denmark) with members of the jury at ECR 2014. Left to right: Lluís Donoso Bach (jury), Annette Meyer Balle, Jarl Jakobsen (jury), Rikke Aarhus, Peter Mildenberger (jury), Agnete Hedemann Nielsen, Hans Billing (jury), Susanne Skovlund Petersen, Ian McCall (jury)

The European Congress of Radiology always includes many presentations, but not many of them involve a cheque for €10,000. Last year, at ECR 2014, that was exactly what was presented to Agnete Hedemann Nielsen, Annette Meyer Balle, Susanne Skovlund Petersen and Rikke Aarhus of the Silkeborg Clinic in Denmark, winners of the inaugural TMC Radiology Quality Award.

The award, which is still open for submissions this year until December 31, is open to professional individuals or groups working in European radiology departments and is given by Telemedicine Clinic, the leading European provider of teleradiology services, to promote radiology-related quality initiatives in Europe.
With such a substantial prize on offer, last year’s award attracted some remarkable entries, but the one from Silkeborg most impressed the international jury. The Danish team introduced a process to improve the quality of diagnosis of minor stroke within their hospital, which was previously meeting national standards in 70% of cases. The systems they implemented had an immediate impact, raising that figure to 90% within two weeks and ultimately leading to reduced length of stay, reduced time of diagnosis, faster initiation of treatment, and improved diagnostic accuracy. You can read more about the winning project, as well as the second and third placed entries, here.

So, if you have been involved in a project that has had a positive impact on radiological quality, check out the submission categories and put in for the award. You have nothing to lose, but a possible €10,000 to gain!