RSNA 2012: UCSF Radiology Presentations & Refresher Courses
UCSF Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging is proud to, once again, have a strong presence at the Radiology Society of North America’s 98th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting. RSNA 2012, running from November 25 to November 30 in Chicago, Illinois, will highlight a number of scientific papers and research topics by UCSF radiologists. Learn about a few of the lectures, courses and studies below:
Dr. Judy Yee
CT Colonography: Present Status and Future Directions
Sunday 11/25, 10:45 AM- 12:15 PM
CT Colonography (CTC), also known as Virtual Colonoscopy, is a less invasive option for colorectal cancer screening. It has been scientifically validated around the world to be effective for the detection of polyps in the colon that are the precursors of cancer. New studies show that CTC is effective for colorectal cancer screening in older patients above 65 years of age which is one of the areas that Medicare wanted more investigation. The radiation dose for this test is very low and equal to the annual background dose. In fact a new study demonstrates that the benefit of having the test compared to the radiation risk has been found to be very high indicating that this is a safe test. The focus of new research in the field includes making laxative free CTC available to patients, the use of time saving novel techniques such as virtual holography, and developing strategies for the use of computer aided detection. This keynote lecture will address the present status and future directions of the imaging option.
Dr. Christopher Hess
Imaging of Recurrent Disease in the Irradiated Head and Neck
Monday 11/26, 8:30- 10:00 AM
Imaging is essential to determining how patients with head and neck cancer are responding to treatment (surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy). MRI, CT and PET-CT are complementary techniques that each have strengths and limitations in evaluating patients undergoing treatment. Although the goal of treatment is the eradication of active tumor, significant collateral injury to normal tissues is common and expected. This damage not only causes common treatment-related side effects, but can also masquerade on imaging studies as recurrent cancer. This talk focuses on the typical imaging findings in the treated head and neck, and on common treatment-related pitfalls that may be erroneously misinterpreted as recurrent cancer.
Dr. Antonio Carlos Westphalen
Imaging after Irradiation of Pelvic Malignancy
Monday 11/26, 8:30- 10:00 AM
Radiation therapy is one of the most common forms of cancer treatment. Following treatment, oncologic patients require continued monitoring for early detection of recurrent disease and, consequently, early initiation of second line therapy. Among the tools used to follow patients are radiologic methods, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. This lecture will review the imaging challenges and perils related to the differentiation of benign post treatment changes and recurrent cancer, as well as common complications of radiation therapy. Treatment of cervical cancer, prostate cancer, and rectal cancer will all be addressed.
Dr. Soonmee Cha
Brain Tumor Mimics
Tuesday 11/27, 8:30- 10:00 AM
This refresher course will focus on illustrating various MRI features that can be used to differentiate brain tumor mimics and malignant brain tumors, both of which can appear very similar on imaging exams. The goal of this course to educate the audience with specific MR imaging features that are more commonly seen with brain tumor mimics and hence avoid misdiagnosing them as brain tumors, which can lead to potentially disastrous consequences.
Dr. Bonnie Joe
Breast MR Cases: Artifacts and Screening Cases
Wednesday 11/28, 8:30- 10:00 AM
Breast MR screening is recommended in addition to annual mammography for patients at very high risk for breast cancer. This lecture focuses on common problems and challenges that come with performing high quality breast MRI.
Dr. Aliya Qayyum
Gastrointestinal Liver: Diffuse Liver Disease
Thursday 11/29, 4:30- 6:00 PM
This refresher course includes a 30 minute interactive presentation with an audience response session on imaging of diffuse liver disease. The session reviews CT and MRI characterization of diffuse liver disease processes including cirrhosis, estimation of liver fat and vascular liver injury. Recommendations for appropriate imaging technique and pitfalls to diagnosis will be discussed.
Dr. Thomas M. Link
Osteoporosis and Marrow Imaging
Friday 11/30, 8:30- 10:00 AM
This refresher course will focus on QCT and CT applications in osteoporosis. Quantitative CT (QCT) is an alternative technique to standard DXA (Dual X-ray absorptiometry) to measure bone mineral density. While DXA is the standard technique QCT has a number of advantages over DXA, which makes it very useful for a number of patients. Standard CT can also be used to measure bone mineral density and to diagnose osteoporotic fractures, which will play an increasing role in the future. Researchers from UCSF are at the forefront in developing these technologies.
Dr. Z. Jane Wang
Gastrointestinal (CT Imaging and Contrast)
Friday 11/30, 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM
Three dimensional (3D) images are beautiful. But, what is its utility in radiological diagnosis, especially with regard to cancer imaging? In this talk, we will review different types of 3D imaging, and show examples of how these may improve cancer detection, staging and treatment monitoring.
These are just a few highlighted examples of the many courses and sessions presented by UCSF radiologists at RSNA 2012. For a complete list, please click here.