Focused Ultrasound Featured at European Congress of Radiology

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Radiologists from around the world gathered in Vienna this month for the 2014 European Congress of Radiology. Dr. Wadyslaw Gedroyc chaired a special focus session called “Treatment with MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound.” The session included a technology overview, a description of the technique, an update on treatment for uterine fibroids and adenomyosis, and an introduction to applications for transcranial ultrasound. A panel discussion entitled, “How can this technology be spread more widely?” rounded out the 90-minute program.

Medical Physics Web published a news story about the focused ultrasound sessions, writing that “MR-guided focused ultrasound has the potential to become one of the most exciting and revolutionary treatment technologies of the 21st Century.” Medscape also covered the meeting, and reported that Newer Uterine Fibroid Treatment Affords Less Efficacy, Risk.

Additional sessions on focused ultrasound held during the week-long event included:

  • Nicholas Grenier and C.M. Sommer moderated an interventional radiology session featuring focused ultrasound abstracts. Indications covered included uterine fibroids, osteoid osteoma, bone lesions, bone cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney disease.
  • Prof. Gail ter Haar presented a workshop on the use of focused ultrasound to treat prostate disease.
  • Prof. Chrit Moonen presented an abstract on the topic of MR-guided focused ultrasound in drug delivery and gene expression.
  • Prof. Giovanni B. Nardelli’s group from Italy presented their data on uterine fibroid treatment outcomes.