RADIOACTIVE NEWS

RSSA - MIP ultrasound mini conference highly successful

Zarina Lockhat

University of Pretoria

The RSSA’s Medical Imaging Partnership (MIP) Visiting International Professors Programme for Winter 2012 took the form of a mini-conference on ultrasound hosted by the Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Imaging at the University of Limpopo’s Medunsa Campus, in conjunction with the RSSA’s CME Association, on 6 and 7 August 2012.

Professor Harriet Paltiel, paediatric radiologist at the Children’s Hospital, Boston, and of Harvard Medical School, graciously accepted the RSSA’s invitation to be the visiting lecturer. The conference was exceptionally well attended, and the number of delegates had to be limited. While larger conferences with internationally renowned speakers play a fundamental role in continuing medical education, an intimate focused workshop plays an important role in developing and promoting sub-specialty interest and in clarifying difficult and complex subjects. This was particularly highlighted at the conference, where Professor Paltiel patiently and in great detail discussed complex paediatric ultrasound topics. The focus of her talks was on the major aspects of paediatric radiology and, although the essential mode was ultrasound, the topics were comprehensively discussed, covering all major paediatric subjects, and correlated with other relevant imaging modalities.

Professor Paltiel showcased exquisitely detailed images and videos, supplementing each condition with clinical, pathological and imaging findings that summarised and enhanced the most important teaching points for different conditions. The presentations were in depth and covered the spectrum related to each topic, and Professor Paltiel very effectively conveyed complex and difficult subjects and imaging concepts in an easy-to-understand format, which was the hallmark of how she lectured and discussed each topic. The presentations were extremely valuable to specialist radiologists, specialist radiologists-in-training, ultrasonographers and sonologists. Numerous disciplines attended the sessions. Professor Paltiel mentioned a free-source website for paediatric radiology self-assessment and curriculum guideline: www.cchs.net/onlinelearning/cometvs10/pedrad, powered by COMET – Centre for Online Medical Education and Training.

Professor Margaret Kisansa, Head of the Department of Radiology at the University of Limpopo’s Medunsa Campus, and her colleagues are commended for the phenomenal success of the event.The auditorium was packed to capacity and there were no vacant seats throughout the sessions, even when snow fell on 7 August! Professor Paltiel was particularly touched by the warmth and hospitality she received, and made many acquaintances and friends in South Africa.

Thanks too to Professors Naseema Ebrahim, Acting Chair of the School of Medicine, Medunsa Campus; Darius Tsatsi, Head of the Department of Radiology, Limpopo Campus; and Victor Mngomezulu, Head of the Department of Radiology, University of the Witwatersrand, for their participation; and Leon Janse van Rensburg and the RSSA for arranging this highly successful conference.

First International Day of Radiology –

8 November 2012

On 8 November this year, the RSSA, the European Society of Radiology (ESR), the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR), together with other international radiological societies, joined in celebrating the First International Day of Radiology (IDoR 2012). The initiative was established with the aim of building greater awareness of the value that radiology contributes to healthcare and to improved understanding of the vital role that radiologists play. As a RSSA member, you are invited and encouraged to promote the IDoR within your practice and radiology community.

Key information about the IDoR, including booklets about oncologic imaging and the history of radiology, appears on the day’s official website at http://internationaldayofradiology.com. In addition, on the RSSA website, one can download the beautifully compiled booklet The Story of Radiology (Volume I) which  has been published by the ESR in co-operation with ISHRAD (International Society for the History of Radiology – Deutsches Röntgen Museum). Please visit http://rssa.co.za/alerts/international-day-of-radiology-8th-november-2012.html for more info. You can also keep up to date with the latest news by liking the International Day of Radiology Facebook page, and show your support by joining the official Facebook event page.

Honorary RSSA membership awarded to Professor Dr Robert Hermans

Clive Sperryn

RSSA President

Robert Hermans became a medical doctor with distinction in 1987 and a certified radiologist in 1991. He obtained a PhD in 1998 and is Professor of Radiology at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. He was President of the International Cancer Imaging Society (ICIS) and is an executive member of the European Society of Head and Neck Radiology (ESHNR). He has published over 150 articles and is regularly invited to lecture at national and international meetings. A member of the ICIS satellite faculty visiting South Africa for the first RSSA/ICIS Cancer Imaging Course in 2009, he was back the next year to conduct the internationally renowned interactive Leuven Ear Imaging Course for the first time outside Europe, and recently returned for the 2012 interactive Head and Neck Cancer Imaging Course held at Spier, near Stellenbosch. South African radiologists have derived significant benefit from these courses held outside Europe, and we greatly appreciate that he has made 3 long-distance visits to South Africa. Moreover, he paid his own way, and the savings to the RSSA CME fund have thus been used for the benefit of registrars.

At the Spier meeting, I was privileged to present Robert Hermans with Honorary Membership of the RSSA in recognition of his selfless commitment to teaching in South Africa. Dr Mngoma presented him with a Kruger Rand on behalf of the RSSA CME Fund.

Thank you to Professor Leon Janse van Rensburg (Congress Chairman) for the vision and dedication which has made all this possible. The RSSA CME programme in South Africa is without equal, and the groundwork done over the past few years has been and will be of significant benefit to South African Radiology for years to come as the programme continues.

RSSA/Leuven Head and Neck Cancer Imaging Course, Spier Estate, 21 - 23 September 2012

Sally Candy

Chair, SA Society of Neuroradiology Imaging (SASNI)

The privilege of attending the oversubscribed RSSA/Leuven Head and Neck Cancer Imaging Workshop more than made up for the disappointing weather! The course was led by a stellar team of experts in the field, comprising Vincent Chong of the National University of Singapore, Robert Hermans from KU Leuven, Frank Pameijer of Utrecht University, Ilona Schmalfuss of the University of Florida, and Harriet Thöny of the University of Bern. Working methodically from skull base to thyroid gland and using the requirements of the surgeon and oncologist as reference points, the lectures revised the complex anatomy and the range of neoplasia on both CT and MRI. In a memorable 30 minutes that should be compulsory course material for all radiologists, Robert Hermans unravelled the mysteries of the pterygopalatine fossa.

Theoretical lectures were followed by a hands-on session where each delegate had the opportunity to apply the theory to a series of illustrative cases. These sessions were conducted under the careful scrutiny of all lecturers. Attention to detail, a thorough knowledge of anatomy, and familiarity with the normal fat planes and fascial compartments of the neck are crucial.

Although the presenters were equally divided in their preference for CT v. MRI, they agreed that MRI has the upper hand in the demonstration of perineural spread of tumour. Common to all head and neck tumours including skin cancers, nerve sheath spread via the endoneurium, perineurium or perineural lymphatics requires meticulous attention to the paths of the Vth and VIIth nerves and their branches. In particular, involvement of the auriculotemporal and inferior alveolar nerves in the spread of skin cancers and parotid tumours was emphasised. Features of smooth thickening, nerve enhancement, expansion of the involved foramina, involvement of the cavernous sinus, and denervation atrophy of the muscles of mastication are elegantly demonstrated if you know where to look!

Lymph node counting is not my favourite pastime but the argument for a good working knowledge of nodal levels and patterns of expected lymphatic drainage in cancer and lymphoma grading and post treatment follow-up was persuasive.

The improvement in the pre- and post-course test results confirmed the subjective consensus that this superbly constructed and executed form of teaching is effective. Thank you to the RSSA CME association and the Leuven Team!

[The following report on the same course was submitted by Dr Pieter Henning, registrar, University of Pretoria.]

On 21 September 2012, some of the leading lights in current radiology gathered at Spier Wine Estate in a typical Cape storm for the RSSA Head and Neck Cancer Imaging Course. Registrars from various medical fraternities also attended. I was one of those privileged to attend, in the hope of demystifying some of the intimidating nature of head and neck cancer reporting, which has earned it a notorious reputation and tendency to move to the tail end of a work list. Following the congress, I can attest that this objective has been achieved.

The RSSA, under the guidance of Professor Leon Janse van Rensburg, provided us with the world’s leading experts on the subject matter – Proff Dr Robert Hermans and Vincent Chong, and Drs Harriet Thöny, Ilona Schmalfuss and Frank Pameijer. Special mention has to be made of Robert Hermans who was the driving force of this initiative; our Society’s appreciation for his great contribution was demonstrated by awarding him with the second Honorary Membership of the RSSA. This was indeed a special occasion and the deserved recognition of an individual who has made a priceless contribution to the teaching and development of radiology in South Africa and abroad.

The practical application and valuable knowledge gained from this congress cannot be translated into words. I believe that an event of this calibre cannot be considered an adjunct to radiological training, but an absolute necessity. There is simply no equal to having first-hand insight into the methodology and interpretation of difficult subject matter by the foremost experts in that field.

I personally thank Proff Robert Hermans and Leon Janse van Rensburg for the opportunity and financial assistance that made it possible to attend this course. I am convinced that the future of radiology in South Africa, and maintaining its high standard, will be defined by our ability to continually host and attend international events such as this, which exemplify the words of Didacus and Newton when they remarked that great intellectual pursuits can only be achieved by ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’. 

MIP hold seminar at Grey’s

Nicola Browning

Department of Radiology, Grey’s Hospital

It was a great privilege for Grey’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg to host the recent RSSA-MIP ultrasound workshop and seminar held from 1 - 3 October 2012. The programme was initiated by the RSSA CME Association’s Chair (Professor Leon Janse van Rensburg) and the Medical Imaging Partnership (MIP), Chair of the Board of Trustees, Professor Vikram Dogra (University of Rochester, NY, USA).

We were further fortunate to have two very accomplished professors (Dr Deborah Rubens (University of Rochester) and Dr Leslie Scoutt (Yale University)) to share their expertise and knowledge with us. The workshop and seminar were attended by radiologists, colleagues and aspiring radiologists from Pietermaritzburg and afar. Topics covered included vascular, abdominal, pelvic and antenatal imaging.

Professors Rubens and Scoutt offered invaluable hands-on training after each session. Arrays of classic and atypical case presentations, accumulated by the professors themselves, were shared with the audience. Their vast experience was imparted in a manner that encouraged participation and was a delight for all. It was an incredible opportunity for our local doctors to engage with Proff Scoutt and Rubens, who practise with unwavering meticulousness.

A highlight of the congress was the RSSA online Webinar session presented on Monday evening. Professor Rubens began with an insightful presentation on carotid Doppler pitfalls. Professor Scoutt followed this with a most practical discussion on pelvic pain.

Our heartfelt gratitude is extended to all those who were instrumental in making this amazing learning experience possible – in particular, Dr Aisne Stoker.

‘If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it.’ [Winston Churchill]