ECR 2013 Begins

The European Congress of Radiology opens today in Vienna, boasting a thoroughly educational pogramme, complemented by a fascinating technical exhibition and unrivalled levels of interactivity.

ECR 2013 President, Professor Jose Ignacio Bilbao from Pamplona, Spain, said during the opening press conference, "The ECR is the annual meeting of the European society of Radiology (ESR), which represents 53,000 radiologists worldwide. With its constant striving for excellence, its keen eye for emerging trends and its fine selection of internationally acclaimed speakers, the congress attracts 20,000 delegates from 100 countries every year, making it one of the largest radiological meetings in the world."

More than 2600 scientific presentations will take place. "It's a wonderful place to share science", added Bilbao. 

The scientific programme includes:

Bilbao noted that the mean age of delegates is getting lower every year, hence the increasing number of teaching sessions taking place. In addition the society gives young radiologists and radiographers in training the chance to participate and attend ECR free of charge.

Delegates will be treated to a large number of interactive lectures and discussion-based sessions, to boost communication and participation among the audience. The ‘European Excellence in Education – E3’ programme will include fourteen 90-minute sessions, which will cover all the major aspects of imaging. The Foundation Course, held Friday and Saturday, will focus on neuroimaging and will be followed by a self-assessment test using an electronic voting system (keypads). 

National radiological societies from Chile, South Africa and Spain will be presenting their latest scientific achievements during the ‘ESR meets’ programme, one of the meeting’s most popular features. 

Dialogue between different disciplines will be another highlight of ECR 2013. “There will be three multidisciplinary sessions on managing patients with cancer, inviting radiologists, surgeons and oncologists to share their expertise. The European-African Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association will take part in joint sessions to strengthen links between professionals. And, for the first time, a partner society will be given the opportunity to participate during the traditional ‘Meets’ programme, as the European Federation of Radiographer Societies (EFRS) will host the session ‘EFRS meets Spain’ on Saturday. A platform will also be given to radiographers through a dedicated Special Focus Session on ultrasound management on Friday,” Bilbao said. 

Most sessions will be broadcast live via web streams, which will be accessible via the ESR website free of charge. Delegates will also be kept informed of social and congress activities via large screens displaying Twitter and Facebook posts and updates by fellow attendees, as well as interviews with prominent radiologists.

The 26,000m² technical exhibition will host more than 300 companies from the world of medical imaging, who will showcase their latest products and services.

In the opening ceremony, ESR President Professor Gabriel Krestin paid tribute to the many radiologists who helped make ESR and ECR what it is today, "one single house for radiologists", standing strongly on its pillars of the profession, education, research and the congress.