ECR

Siemens cast its work-in-progress 16-slice PET/CT at the nexus of vision and value.

New developments in ultrasound and MRI mean that peripheral nerve imaging is easier than ever to perform and may bring higher sensitivity to lesion detection.

Elastography is one of the emerging technologies on display at ECR 2009, reflecting the growing importance of imaging techniques that compare the inherent stiffness of healthy and abnormal tissues in advancing the diagnostic value of ultrasound. Elastography’s clinical applications were discussed at two separate satellite symposia on Saturday and Sunday.

In the gleaming technical exhibition at ECR 2009, vendors of MRI systems are showing just how their latest innovations will help turn the imaging examination into a faster, less claustrophobic, and altogether more pleasant experience for the patient.

Vienna has always been a magical place for me. When my wife and I first had an opportunity to visit Europe in 1983, we made sure it was on our itinerary. The fact that our daughter and son were only nine and six years old, respectively, meant that we had to make each city we visited a special place for them. Vienna meant two things for them: dancing white horses and waltz music. Of course, it soon meant other things, such as Sacher-Torte and wiener schnitzel. Even nine- and six-year-olds appreciate good food, and Vienna certainly had a feast of that!

Multislice CT continues to spawn new applications in lung imaging, such as software techniques that allow depiction of airway morphology abnormalities in the prevalent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. But radiologists are still not doing enough to cut the radiation dose while using the latest imaging tools, resulting in unnecessary and potentially hazardous excess exposure, according to some experts.

Are there any limits to what can be achieved with new PACS technologies? Yes, of course. But sometimes it seems that the only restrictions are those imposed by the scope of the human imagination.

Yes, size does matter, but it is certainly not the only way to monitor the efficacy of cancer treatment. The way in which lesions are measured is extremely important as well, ECR delegates were told at a special focus session on the assessment of tumor response.

The first ECR meeting that I attended was in 1999. I had started a CT practice in a hospital in Mumbai in 1995 with a conventional CT scanner and when it was time to upgrade to a spiral CT scanner, my wife and I thought it would be a good idea to attend an international conference. After our experience at the RSNA in Chicago in 1994, which had left us with severe sensory and physical overload from running from one place to another, trying to attend everything at once, a smaller meeting seemed more appealing.

IT provider medavis is taking radiology information systems to task.

The new owner of Visage Imaging, Pro Medicus, is showing a jewel in its new crown.

Prof. Hedvig Hricak told delegates during Friday’s opening lecture that they must learn from the words of Charles Darwin: embrace change and adapt.

Forensic radiography sessions have become a fixture at medical imaging conferences. Delegates are typically guaranteed a good visual show, with presenters displaying many novel images that would seldom be seen in clinical radiology departments. The sessions are, to some extent, radiology’s own shock and awe.

A less powerful version of Toshiba's flagship Aquilion One CT scanner appeared at its first tradeshow this week in Vienna.

Having completed the sale of its 3D visualization unit to Toshiba Medical earlier this year, Barco projected a new , more concentrated look at ECR 2009.

A joint project of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe and the European Society of Radiology addresses some key points of diagnosis and referral to interventional radiology within the radiology department.

Slice wars have long dominated advances in CT technology. That situation is changing, and the market appears ripe for innovation. Energy-dependent imaging, a topic first aired over two decades ago, is back on the agenda

Digital breast tomosynthesis was found to be superior to 2D digital mammography for determining tumor boundaries, a value at a time when more women with breast cancer are choosing breast conservation therapy, according to a study presented Friday.

Speed and efficiency are two of the buzzwords used most commonly in the highly competitive field of CT imaging. When the wraps were lifted from the ECR 2009 technical exhibition, the dazzling improvements in data acquisition speed achieved by the new generation of CT scanners emerged. Vendors claim that huge improvements can be expected, in both radiology department workflow and patient safety.

Image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy, high-intensity focused ultrasound, and cryotherapy are increasing the curative treatment options for men with prostate cancer. The problem is how to determine which patients are most suitable for these therapies.

CT urography with multislice technology has a very high spatial resolution for imaging the urinary tract. It can detect tiny urothelial tumors inside the intrarenal collecting system and ureter, potentially avoiding the need for more invasive endourologic procedures. MR urography is preferred for some patients, however.

Some people think that I should not write serious articles. Frank opinions on science, medicine, or even reality can easily be contested, particularly because my truth is different from other people’s.

Agfa HealthCare is showcasing its new DX-D line of digital radiography systems at ECR 2009.

Mention Switzerland and most people will think of mountains. Because the country will have its first ever ECR president in March, it is no great surprise that the symbol of the congress is one of the world’s most famous peaks: the Matterhorn.

Cardiac MR imaging with delayed gadolinium enhancement can detect silent myocardial fibrosis and other cardiac abnormalities in patients with systemic sclerosis, German researchers told attendees of a cardiac session in Vienna.

Whole-body MRI is more sensitive but less specific than FDG-PET/CT for cancer detection, according to researchers from China and Europe. Findings suggest a complementary rather than exclusive role in oncologic imaging for both modalities and validate recent studies suggesting close follow-up since either test can miss metastases.

Computer-aided detection may lend an extra punch to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism with multislice and dual-energy CT scanners. Studies by French and German researchers have shown it helps detect small, hard-to-spot clots lodged in the lungs’ periphery.

Radiologists are playing a central role in the aftermath of terror attacks in Israel, delegates heard on Sunday. CT is now regarded as the primary diagnostic tool in incidents involving multiple casualties, Dr. Ahuva Engel told attendees at the “ESR meets Israel” session.

Delegates caught a glimpse of the future of radiological technology at Sunday’s “ESR meets Israel” session.Israel may be relatively a small nation, with a population of just seven million, but it is making important contributions to innovation. About 900 companies are developing new pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare IT products. The majority of these businesses are relatively young and are supported by venture capital funding.

Interest in multimodality imaging shows no sign of abating. New tracers are opening up the range of clinical applications, while novel technological solutions are paving the way for yet more modality marriages, according to speakers at Sunday’s special focus session on hybrid imaging.