Hot topics in women's imaging at this year's RSNA meeting include breast ultrasound and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and attendees can expect to encounter everything from refresher courses to scientific sessions devoted to these technologies. But don't be surprised to hear a lot about breast MRI as well.
Kick the week off at a scientific session completely devoted to breast ultrasound (Sunday, November 25, 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., SSA01, Arie Crown Theater) that begins with the provocative question: What if ultrasound was the primary screening test for breast cancer?
Also on Sunday will be presentations on nuclear medicine and breast imaging (10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., SSA18, Room S505AB) and on various other technology combinations, such as DBT or MRI with near-infrared spectroscopic breast imaging, as well as PET/MRI (10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., SSA20, Room S404AB).
Don't miss Monday morning's multisession course on nuclear and molecular breast imaging, during which attendees will learn about working up findings on screening MBI, imaging breast tissue with confocal fluorescence microscopy, and updates on BSGI (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., VSMI21, Arie Crown Theater). Monday afternoon brings more research on breast MRI and DBT (3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., SSE01 and SSE02, Arie Crown Theater and Room E450A, respectively).
Start the day on Tuesday with a controversy session on the pros and cons of preoperative breast MRI (7:15 a.m.-8:15 a.m., SPSC30, Room E451A), or a scientific session that explores how mammography screening can be influenced by age, ethnicity, or facility type (10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., SSG02, Room E451A).
Tuesday afternoon's refresher course topics include tailored breast cancer screening (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., RC415, Room N227), the physics and practical aspects of breast ultrasound (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., RC421, Room E350), and ultrasound-guided interventional breast procedures (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., RC452, Room E264).
What's on for Wednesday? A course devoted to the postmenopausal patient (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC516, Room E353A), new trends in breast computer-aided detection (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC521, Room N226), and emerging technologies in breast imaging, such as contrast mammography, elastography, and, yes, DBT (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., VSBR41, Arie Crown Theater).
Thursday morning features a dedicated breast CT session on basic principles, technology, and clinical aspects (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC621, Room E350); a primer on breast interventional procedures (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., RC715, Room E350); and challenges in breast imaging, such as radiation dose (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., RC721, Room N228).
To end with a bang, check out Friday's imaging symposium, which will coach attendees on how to distinguish themselves from the crowd by providing high-level breast imaging interpretation (12:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m., SPBR62, Room E451A).
For highlights of the many women's imaging papers scheduled for presentation at the RSNA 2012 meeting, keep reading! And to view RSNA's list of abstracts for this year's scientific and educational program, click here.
