If I had to characterize the RSNA meeting in one word, it would be variety. Gigantic would be a close second, but variety is what the RSNA does best. With over 1100 educational exhibits alone, you can spend days trying to see them all. Many people do.I attended an excellent course given by Drs. Wilson, Nelson, and Charboneau on liver ultrasound with emphasis on contrast enhancement, biopsy techniques, and RF ablation of liver tumors. RF ablation is the "hot topic" at this year's meeting. You must make a bad pun related to temperature when writing or talking on this subject. See also cool procedure or area of burning interest.
We have been looking at these procedures for the past year, and my to-do list included visiting all three manufacturers of approved RFA devices. This looks like yet another great technology for us to acquire, develop in our community, and then have the hospital offer to another specialty.
Ph.D.s Frey and Wagner, along with PR professional Diane O'Rourke, gave a very good session on fielding radiation questions from consumers and the media. The session was held under the auspices of the AAPM, the physics stepchild of the RSNA. I got the impression most in the audience were radiation physicists, which was appropriate. Radiologists hate to take calls about doses to children, fetuses, etc. We all know the best way to dodge such a bullet is by deflecting it to your department physicist. In my rural practice, our physicist lives a hundred miles away, which is the ultimate redirection.
O'Rourke said that all media professionals are scum. Actually, she emphasized how the media has to use selected quotes, since they can't print or air an entire interview, and this change of context may distort what you said. I felt a personal obligation to misquote her.
The relationship between radiation physics and radiology has always intrigued me. On average, radiation physicists are a lot smarter than radiologists, except for their decision to enter physics instead of radiology. Fortunately, we outnumber them tremendously. It was physicists who created the atom bomb, which I believe is the most important reason the general public has an undercurrent of distrust for scientists. Yet I have never met a radiation physicist who didn't seem to love his work, which is not true for physicians.
I listened to an interesting conversation about the rampant consolidation in radiology vendors. Major players like GE and Philips continue to gobble up the rest. This is evident in many ways here at McCormick Place, as the big four exhibits continue to expand. Pretty soon you'll only have to visit four or five companies, and then you can go holiday shopping. Since these large companies seem to require all their employees to wear a black suit, the place looks more like a funeral every year. You can spot the radicals at these booths if you get them in the right light -- their suits are really dark blue.
In this same conversation, Dr. Mark Klein brought up some fundamental business principles. Apparently, when any industry gets down to four major players, competition and innovation suffer. I respect Mark's opinion, not just because he writes for DI, has an MBA, and runs a successful practice in the difficult market in and around Washington, DC. I respect him because he is married to one of the most interesting and elegant women I know. There must be more to him than meets the eye.
I wanted to attend a session offered on advanced PowerPoint presentation techniques and another on CT colonography, but my schedule wouldn't allow it. There are just far too many diverse and interesting topics here. Why do I come to RSNA every year? Variety is the spice of life.
