ECR Webcast showcases latest research

For the third year running, editors from Diagnostic Imaging have landed in Vienna to provide Webcast coverage of the European Congress of Radiology. Although the RSNA is becoming more international every year, it can't capture the unique European perspective presented at this annual event. Our daily news stories will highlight research from the studies presented at the ECR, but much more is available at the Webcast.

The Europeans have been far ahead of the U.S. in monitoring and controlling the use of ionizing radiation, and this year's presentations continue that trend. Researchers have focused on vendor efforts to reduce dose exposure, as well as optimal shielding placement and low-dose CT protocols, including those for virtual colonoscopy and cardiac CT angiography. For 64-slice CT scanners, researchers are perfecting protocols to regulate the rate of contrast administration and adjusting gantry angles to accommodate a wider range of heart rates.

While CT has become the standard of care for pulmonary embolism in the U.S., European radiologists are refining the use of MR for this indication. Additionally, gadolinium-enhanced CT may be the answer for patients for whom MR is contraindicated and who are at risk of renal failure.

There are new developments in interventional radiology, imaging the female pelvis, molecular imaging, and plaque characterization. As always, we have scoured the ECR program to bring you the most significant highlights from the meeting. If you can't travel to the land of Strauss and Mozart for this congress, the next best thing is to point your browser at www.diagnosticimaging.com.