The European Society of Radiology, within its Education and Training Program, has announced that
the first European Diploma in Radiology examination will be held at the ECR 2011 Congress in
Vienna, on Monday, March 7. The examination will consist of written and oral tests. Passing the
examination will certify a standard radiological knowledge for practice in general radiology.
Success in the examination is of high value for radiologists in their professional
development.
Specifically, for medical migration, the Diploma will facilitate procedures by providing an
ESRendorsed qualification, supplemental to national qualifications. The test represents a
significant
step towards transnational harmonization of radiological standards in Europe.
The examination is open to radiologists who can certify at least 4 years of training (with a
Certificate of Completion of Training, CCT) and who have a licence to practice within a national
institutional member of ESR. Candidates must be full ESR members in the year of the examination.
Accepted candidates will be entitled to register for ECR 2011 at a reduced early fee.
FDA clears first App for image viewing on iPad/iPhone
Mobile MIM is a remote diagnostic imaging tool for Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that was
previously anticipated to the medical community when it won the Apple Design Award for Best iPhone
Healthcare & Fitness Application in 2008.
In February 2011, the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved MIM Software's
Mobile MIM application, the first mobile image viewing App to receive clearance
for diagnostic use on Apple's mobile devices.
The application covers viewing CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine (including PET) images, and
making medical diagnoses from them, using iPads and iPhones. This application is not intended to
replace full workstations, but it is indicated for use when there is no access to a workstation,
according to the FDA.
In its evaluation of
Mobile MIM, the FDA reviewed performance test results on a number of portable
devices, measuring luminance, image resolution, and the signal/noise ratio according to
international standards and guidelines. The FDA also reviewed results of demonstration studies from
qualified radiologists under different lighting conditions. The researchers agreed that the device
was sufficient for diagnostic image interpretation under recommended lighting conditions.
With
Mobile MIM, images are compressed for network transfer and sent to a portable
wireless device. The FDA stated that
Mobile MIM also enables physicians to measure distances and image intensity
values, as well as display measurement lines, annotations, and regions of interest.
The FDA noted that there can be significant variations in the display performance of mobile
devices, even between the same model. However, the
Mobile MIM App includes sufficient labeling and safety features to reduce the risk
of poor image display due to incorrect screen luminance or lighting conditions. In fact, the
software includes an interactive contrast test in which a small part of the screen is a slightly
different tone than the rest of the screen. If the physician can identify and tap this portion of
the screen, then the lighting conditions will not interfere with the physician's ability to discern
subtle differences in contrast.
Moreover, an exhaustive user's guide is included within the application. Mobile MIM is
available in 14 languages and in 36 countries all over the world. The application can be downloaded
from Apple's App Store.
ESOR training 2011
ESOR, the European School of Radiology of the European Society of Radiology, will be offering in
2011 a complementary and continuing education program for residents and young radiologists. The
rich training program will comprise courses and seminars designed to further develop radiologic
knowledge.
Examples of ESOR's events include:
GALEN Foundation Courses (for residents in their first, second and third years
of training)
The GALEN program comprises five foundation and four advanced courses held throughout
Europe; limited to 60 participants.
GALEN Advanced Courses (for residents in their fourth and fifth years of training and for board-certified
(early years) radiologists, and general radiologists)
ASKLEPIOS Courses (for residents, board-certified (early years) radiologists
and general radiologists)
This project addresses recognized needs and serves professional development through
continuing radiological education. This year’s program includes multithematic and multimodality
advanced courses also delivered outside Europe to establish a strong international branch of ESOR.
Scholarship Program (for residents in their third, fourth and fifth years of
training)
This visiting scholarship program provides intensive international training for those who
wish to explore a sub-specialization. 30 places in Europe.
Exchange Programs for Fellowships (for residents in their last year of
training and board-certified radiologists in abdominal, breast, cardiac, head/neck, pediatric, and
neurological imaging).
For more information:
www.myesr.org
The 1
st European Day of Radiology
Imaging is a fundamental instrument of modern medicine, but few people know just how important
it is. Radiologists contribute every day to saving lives by covering every field of medicine.
Although many imaging techniques are well known by name, and there is awareness on the
impact that a single routine examination can have on a patient's life, the right perception of
radiology is often far less clear. The enormous advances in research and technology have led
radiology to play an increasingly relevant role in healthcare, not just in terms of diagnosis, but
also as a major contributor to treatment and patient's recovery. By multidisciplinary work with
other medical specialities, radiology has had a major impact on advances in early cancer detection,
speedy trauma analysis, and precise stroke localization.
To raise public awareness, the European Society of Radiology has launched the 1
st European Day of Radiology on 2011, February 10, in memory of X-ray discoverer Wilhelm
Conrad Röntgen, Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901, in recognition of the extraordinary services he has
rendered to modern medicine. The European Day of Radiology saw, for the first time, coordinated
press activities undertaken by national radiological societies across Europe to highlight the role
and significance of medical imaging.
Societies from 19 countries accepted to partecipate in this initiative, all of whom focused
on the recent challenges and achievements in their respective countries. The topics reflected the
most important issues in radiology, including cancer detection and therapy, emergency radiology,
patient safety and radiation dose reduction, and stroke imaging. Each participating country
discussed at least one of these subjects as focus of its activities, with some societies also
deciding to support them with local events held around February 10. The national radiological
societies of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,
Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
UK all agreed to take part in the initiative. It is hoped that this will help to enhance radiology’s
image as an essential and progressive element of modern medical care.
The initiative was conceived and coordinated centrally by the ESR, based in Vienna, Austria.
Formed in 2005 through the merging of two other entities – the European Association of
Radiology and the European Congress of Radiology – the ESR has spent the last five years promoting
and coordinating radiological activities, bringing together more than 50,000 members worldwide.
