International Day of Radiology – 8 November 2013

A vital part of medical care since X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Röntgen, radiology and the new technologies developed around it have hugely facilitated better care as well as minimally invasive surgery. In recognition of radiology’s impact, radiological societies across the world celebrated the second International Day of Radiology (IDoR) on 8 November 2013.

The IDoR was established to build greater awareness of the value that radiology contributes to patient care, and to improve the understanding of the vital role that radiologists play in the healthcare continuum. Medical imaging is one of the most exciting and progressive disciplines in healthcare and a field of great activity in technological and biological research.

The day is a joint initiative of the ESR, the RSNA and the ACR, with the full co-operation and involvement of the International Society of Radiology (ISR), as well as umbrella organisations on all continents, including the Asian Oceanian Society of Radiology (AOSR), the Colegio Interamericano de Radiología (CIR), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR), and the Radiological Society of South Africa (RSSA – which also represents neighbouring countries). The European Federation of Radiographer Societies (EFRS) also supports IDoR 2013.

Information about the IDoR, including booklets about oncological imaging and the history of radiology, is on the day’s official website at http://www.internationaldayofradiology.com
One can also keep up to date with the latest news by liking the IDoR Facebook page.

AOSPR Congress report-back

Nishentha Govender

Firstly, I wish to thank the RSSA CME Association for the generous sponsorship that afforded me the opportunity to attend the 13th Asian & Oceanic Society for Paediatric Radiology (AOSPR) Congress in Hong Kong from 14 - 15 September. It was held during the auspicious moon festival period, which is a wonderful cultural celebration, and was addressed by more than 30 renowned speakers, experts in their respective fields. The congress was not only an opportunity for new ideas and scientific knowledge to be shared, but also fostered collaboration among different specialists and healthcare professionals in pursuit of better healthcare for children worldwide.
The organising committee put together a most comprehensive programme which dealt with a broad scope of paediatric radiology. The topics ranged from paediatric emergencies to subspecialist medical advances. I am always astounded at the advances in radiology and how the boundaries of science are being challenged. Yet another example of this was covered in the interesting presentation by Giles Boland, Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, on ‘Precision imaging in the era of personalised medicine’, in which he discussed the use of imaging biomarkers in oncology and clinical trials.

The AOSPR provides radiologists with a wonderful opportunity to make new friendships and share experiences with each other. I had the privilege of delivering both an oral and a poster presentation concerning our South African-based research papers.

The AOSPR strongly encourages submission of abstracts and participation in the congress. I would advise registrars and interested researchers to take advantage of this opportunity to share their scientific contributions to an international audience. The next AOSPR meeting will be held in Melbourne and is predicted to be even better.

Thanks again to the RSSA for this much-appreciated, great experience.

Report on the 37th ESNR Annual Meeting

Sally Candy

Head of Neuroradiology and MRI

Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT

The 37th European Society of Neuroradiology/21st advanced course in Diagnostic Radiology and 5th course in Interventional Neuroradiology took place between 29 September and 1 October at the Conference Centre, Westend Campus of the Goethe University, Frankfurt. This well designed and modern venue served the conference well, with its emphasis on state-of-the-art neuro-intervention and diagnostics.

Professor Anton Valavanis gave a sparkling review of the microcirculation and collateral vascular supply of the brain that provided the framework for the subsequent talks on chronic ischaemia, cerebral haemodynamics nd the role of the many advanced imaging techniques now available to the neuroradiologist. Susceptibility weighted imaging, MR perfusion and arterial spin labelling featured prominently. Reference was made to the disappointing results of intra-arterial thrombolysis, but the beneficial role of reperfusion in clinical post-stroke outcome was emphasised. Prospective studies using technologically advanced stent retrievers in ‘bridging’ treatment are ongoing, and the proponents of this form of acute stroke management are optimistic.

Despite the improvements in diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in tumour and infection of both the brain and the spine, accurate prediction of tumour grade and histology are still not within reach. A group in Spain presented preliminary findings of DTI in quantitative assessment of the degree of degeneration in intervertebral discs.

Dynamic fetal imaging now allows us to assess foetal cardiac and gastro-intestinal abnormalities to maximise pregnancy outcome and to plan delivery management and ‘exit’ strategy.

7 Tesla imaging is now a clinical reality. Professor Pham (Germany) elegantly demonstrated how high-Tesla magnets offer exquisite visualisation of the internal architecture of previously impenetrable peripheral nerves and plexuses. Professor Rovira (Spain) outlined the advantages of high-strength 3D FLAIR, white matter-attenuated TFE, T2* GRE and SWI imaging in improving the conspicuity of demyelinating plaques in the cortex of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Functional imaging is finding use in the imaging of pre-clinical dementia and pain perception and control. The prize for futuristic possibility, though, must go to Dr Gobel of Maastricht University, the Netherlands, who expanded on the use of complex functional MR feedback loops to enable ‘locked-in’ patients to communicate.

Anne Osborn gave two outstanding review lectures on Tumours in Epilepsy and The Spectrum of Lymphomatoid Disorders. Some of us in South Africa will have been fortunate enough to have had a sneak preview of this lecture on a webinar arranged by the RSSA earlier this year.

Congratulations to the President of the Congress, Prof. Dr Friedhelm Zanella and to Prof. Turgat Tali, ESNR President, for a well-organised and stimulating meeting.

WFNRS planning meeting for the XXth Symposium Neuroradiologicum

Sally Candy

Head of Neuroradiology and MRI

Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT

The meeting, chaired by Professor E Turgat Tali, was the second meeting of the organising committee for the Symposium Neuroradiologicum to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 8 - 12 September 2014. The first planning meeting was held in San Diego at the ASNR earlier this year. Representatives from all over Europe attended. Drs Candy, Kilborn and Janse van Rensburg represented the subgroups of SASNI and SASPI RSSA at the meeting, and indicated their willingness to review scientific abstracts and to chair sessions at the prestigious symposium, where several parallel sessions will cover the topics of stroke, head and neck, paediatric diagnostics, diagnostic and interventional spine, intravascular intervention and adult imaging.

A decision was made at the meeting that the poster session will be conducted entirely electronically, and that the parallel scientific oral presentations will be preceded by a named speaker to provide coherence and to improve attendance.

The website for abstract submission opened on 11 September this year and will close on 31 March 2014. Delegates will be notified of abstract acceptance on 30 April 2014. On-line registration opens on 22 November 2013. The website URL is http://www.wfnrs2014.com/en/