Highlights from the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the ASER 2017 annual scientific meeting and postgraduate course

The annual meeting of the American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) took place in Toronto, Canada, on September 6 through September 9, 2017. Attendees represented the USA as well as international emergency radiology communities, including those from academic, private practice, and teleradiology settings. There were several “members in training” in attendance as well. The meeting again featured the “Trauma Head to Toe” 2-day didactic course, highlighting various important topics on imaging of traumatic injuries. Scattered throughout the 4 days were several poster and case of the day presentations, scientific sessions, and self-assessment modules. The following is a summary of the educational posters and scientific papers.     

Highlights from the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the ASER 2016 annual scientific meeting and postgraduate course

The annual meeting of the American Society of Radiology (ASER) took place in San Francisco, California on September 14 through September 17, 2016. Attendees represented the USA as well as international emergency radiology communities, including those from academic, private practice, and teleradiology settings. There were several “members in training” in attendance as well. The meeting again featured the “Trauma Head to Toe” 2-day didactic course, highlighting various important topics on imaging of traumatic injuries. Scattered throughout the 4 days were several poster and case of the day presentations, scientific sessions, and self-assessment modules. The following is a summary of the educational posters and scientific papers.     

Highlights from the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the ASER 2015 annual scientific meeting and postgraduate course

The American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) 2015 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course offered dedicated learning sessions, oral presentations, and digital exhibits on a broad spectrum of topics in emergency radiology, including traumatic and non-traumatic emergencies, quality, communication, education, technological innovations, and the evolving identity of the emergency radiology subspecialty. This article highlights the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the meeting.     

Preparing to sit the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Radiologists Faculty of Radiation Oncology Fellowship Part 2 examination: the value of a workshop including practice and feedback

A workshop has been held annually to help prepare candidates to sit the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Radiologists Part 2 Faculty of Radiation Oncology examination. This study examined the value of such a course and its component parts and assessed attendees' learning environments. We collected detailed information from participants before and after the training workshop in 2005. A specific feature of this workshop included the use of an examination technique feedback form to facilitate the provision of systematic and comprehensive feedback to individual candidates after mock examination. Participants completed course evaluation forms and a learning environment survey. There were 22 candidate participants. The course and its components of this course were perceived very positively - including the examination technique feedback forms and written advice. Only three of the 24 questions regarding the registrars learning environment had less than 80% favourable responses - two of these questions related to workload. The course design described seems reasonably satisfactory in that it included the components ranked most highly by candidates. We also identified a number of variations that may be useful for future workshops. Although learning environments were generally good, we identified a perceived problem with workloads affecting a significant number of registrars.     

Non small cell carcinoma of the lung. A retrospective study. Presented at the 41st annual meeting of the Royal Australasian College of Radiologists, September 1990, Perth.

A retrospective study was undertaken in 1990 of 188 patients with the diagnosis of non small cell carcinoma of the lung referred to the Department of Radiation Oncology in 1984. Most patients (178/188) received a course of radiotherapy. This was definitive in 23, palliative in 148 (primary site in 113, metastases in 16, primary plus metastases in 19) and postoperative in 7. This report is a 5 year followup of the 171 patients treated by radiation alone, to assess factors that influence survival. Tumour histology was 50% squamous, 23% adenocarcinoma, 16% large cell and 4% unspecified, non small cell carcinoma. In 8% no histological diagnosis was obtained. The most common symptoms were cough (44%), dyspnoea (43%), chest pain (37%), haemoptysis (33%) and systemic symptoms (36%). Tumour stage (TNM) was assessed retrospectively as I(5%), II(8%), IIIA(18%), IIIB(22%) and IV(28%). A subgroup of 31 cases (18%) of uncertain staging (I-III) was analysed separately and in 2 cases (1%) no staging information was available. Palliative intent of treatment and poorer performance status were related significantly to increasing stage of disease. The effects of palliative treatment were recorded in 79 cases; in 71 there was a reduction in symptoms. The median survival from diagnosis was 8 months (range < 1-72). Using univariate and multivariate analyses, significant and independent prognostic factors for improved survival were good performance status, absence of systemic symptoms, lower tumour stage and curative intent of treatment (higher radiation dose). However the 5-year survival was only 2%. Long-term survival was associated predominantly with early stage disease but not with the type or intent of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Training the next generation of radiology researchers. Report on a joint meeting of the Royal College of Radiologists and the Wellcome Trust and an overview of College strategies in developing radiology research

As the use of imaging continues to increase in medical research, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) Research Committee and the Wellcome Trust held a joint meeting in 2010 to explore the current issues critical to training the next generation of radiology researchers. It was stated that despite an increase in consultant radiologist numbers, the number of academic posts has declined. This has resulted in radiology lagging behind some of the other specialties in terms of research activity and output. Some of the obstacles arising from the meeting have since been addressed by the RCR. These and other possible solutions that emanated from the interactive sessions include establishing a research culture in radiology departments, establishing a network of research radiologist mentors, improving trainee opportunities, and improving consultant opportunities. The meeting demonstrated the demand and need for extended support for research activity from the RCR. The RCR Academic Committee is formulating recommendations based on these and other sources of evidence. However, it is acknowledged that this comes at a time when national financial resources for research support are severely limited. Research in radiology remains an important part of the future development of the specialty. Supporting the next generation of potential researchers is essential, and this meeting was a means to understand how this might best be achieved.     

Highlights of the thirteenth annual scientific meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

The 13th Annual Scientific Meeting of the SCCT, held from July 13 to July 15 in Dallas, TX, was attended by 690 attendees from 39 countries, 55 sessions with 140 speakers, and 18 exhibitors with the abstracts of all scientific posters published in the Journal of the Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. This article summarizes the many themes and topics of presentation and discussion in this meeting, and the many technical advances that are likely to impact future clinical practice in cardiac computed tomography and feature in future meetings.