Every year, the ECR provides one of the largest international forums to showcase the latest innovations in radiology. Due to the current restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's congress will not be held as usual in Vienna, but rather in the virtual world. In preparation for this event, the articles in the following dossier provide valuable insights into topics such as digitalization, intelligent imaging methods, and the impact of COVID-19 on the future of radiology.
The impact of the pandemic
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How the pandemic could spur lasting innovation
In early 2020, life in the Western world was deceptively easy. By mid-March, that had changed. In just days, what was sure became uncertain. Hundreds around the world – from infants to the elderly, people in good shape to those who struggled to walk upstairs – died.
Tens of thousands lost their jobs.
…And it got worse; a lot worse.
Tens of thousands lost their jobs.
…And it got worse; a lot worse.
X-ray imaging for COVID-19 patients
In December 2019, a new form of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, infected humans in Wuhan in the Chinese province of Hubei. The respiratory disease named COVID-19 has become a pandemic that is now spreading very rapidly. Imaging procedures are crucial in the COVID-19 pandemic when it comes to assessing suspected cases and the course of the disease. On the basis of the latest scientific evidence we consider the role of X-ray imaging in the current situation.
Ultrasound for COVID-19 patients
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop rapidly, particularly in the United States and Europe. Imaging procedures are an essential component of care for patients with symptoms. Besides computed tomography (CT) and X-ray imaging, lung ultrasound (LUS) has become an emerging tool for assessing COVID-19 patients.
Algorithms for automated standard contouring
At the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, radiation oncologists are successfully testing AI-based algorithms to automatically contour organs at risk and irradiate tumors faster and more precisely.
How the pandemic could spur lasting innovation
In early 2020, life in the Western world was deceptively easy. By mid-March, that had changed. In just days, what was sure became uncertain. Hundreds around the world – from infants to the elderly, people in good shape to those who struggled to walk upstairs – died.
Tens of thousands lost their jobs.
…And it got worse; a lot worse.
Tens of thousands lost their jobs.
…And it got worse; a lot worse.
X-ray imaging for COVID-19 patients
In December 2019, a new form of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, infected humans in Wuhan in the Chinese province of Hubei. The respiratory disease named COVID-19 has become a pandemic that is now spreading very rapidly. Imaging procedures are crucial in the COVID-19 pandemic when it comes to assessing suspected cases and the course of the disease. On the basis of the latest scientific evidence we consider the role of X-ray imaging in the current situation.
Ultrasound for COVID-19 patients
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop rapidly, particularly in the United States and Europe. Imaging procedures are an essential component of care for patients with symptoms. Besides computed tomography (CT) and X-ray imaging, lung ultrasound (LUS) has become an emerging tool for assessing COVID-19 patients.
Algorithms for automated standard contouring
At the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, radiation oncologists are successfully testing AI-based algorithms to automatically contour organs at risk and irradiate tumors faster and more precisely.
How the pandemic could spur lasting innovation
In early 2020, life in the Western world was deceptively easy. By mid-March, that had changed. In just days, what was sure became uncertain. Hundreds around the world – from infants to the elderly, people in good shape to those who struggled to walk upstairs – died.
Tens of thousands lost their jobs.
…And it got worse; a lot worse.
Tens of thousands lost their jobs.
…And it got worse; a lot worse.
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COVID-19 clinical results
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COVID-19 pneumonia - quantitative assessment
A 54-year-old female patient, suffering from tightness in her chest and coughing with blood/stained sputum for the past day, presented herself to the hospital. She had high fever (38.7°), for unknown reasons, for the past seven days. Her RT-PCR test resulted positive. She was then referred for a CT chest examination.
COVID-19 pneumonia
A female patient (BMI 32.4), suffering from fever and a moderate dry cough for the past week, presented herself to the hospital. She was a non-smoker and had an unremarkable past medical history. The RT-PCR test for COVID-19 resulted positive and she was then referred for a chest CT examination.
COVID-19 pneumonia - quantitative assessment
A 54-year-old female patient, suffering from tightness in her chest and coughing with blood/stained sputum for the past day, presented herself to the hospital. She had high fever (38.7°), for unknown reasons, for the past seven days. Her RT-PCR test resulted positive. She was then referred for a CT chest examination.
COVID-19 pneumonia
A female patient (BMI 32.4), suffering from fever and a moderate dry cough for the past week, presented herself to the hospital. She was a non-smoker and had an unremarkable past medical history. The RT-PCR test for COVID-19 resulted positive and she was then referred for a chest CT examination.
COVID-19 pneumonia - quantitative assessment
A 54-year-old female patient, suffering from tightness in her chest and coughing with blood/stained sputum for the past day, presented herself to the hospital. She had high fever (38.7°), for unknown reasons, for the past seven days. Her RT-PCR test resulted positive. She was then referred for a CT chest examination.
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Innovative workflows
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Stroke thrombectomy: Implementing life-saving neurointerventions
Advancements in catheter therapy have in recent years turned stroke care upside down. Interventional specialists can often save patients with even the most severe strokes – provided the patients arrive at the hospital on time.
Digitalization in radiology: How a virtual scanning cockpit helps to deploy specialist knowledge precisely where it is needed
In the future, the growing need for radiological specialists could lead to more frequent bottlenecks. Now, thanks to the introduction of software to support remote scanning, radiology technologists at Essen University Hospital can operate up to three scanners at the same time regardless of their location.
Stroke thrombectomy: Implementing life-saving neurointerventions
Advancements in catheter therapy have in recent years turned stroke care upside down. Interventional specialists can often save patients with even the most severe strokes – provided the patients arrive at the hospital on time.
Digitalization in radiology: How a virtual scanning cockpit helps to deploy specialist knowledge precisely where it is needed
In the future, the growing need for radiological specialists could lead to more frequent bottlenecks. Now, thanks to the introduction of software to support remote scanning, radiology technologists at Essen University Hospital can operate up to three scanners at the same time regardless of their location.
Stroke thrombectomy: Implementing life-saving neurointerventions
Advancements in catheter therapy have in recent years turned stroke care upside down. Interventional specialists can often save patients with even the most severe strokes – provided the patients arrive at the hospital on time.
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Personalized treatment
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Changing paradigms in breast cancer screening
New imaging approaches such as tomosynthesis and abbreviated MRI are suitable to overcome the limitations of mammography. Experts believe that these possibilities should ultimately be integrated into screening strategies tailored to personal risk.
How can intelligent and personalized CT scanning ease radiology workflow?
As a specialized clinic with a clear mandate for training and research, the University Hospital Erlangen is always seeking out the latest CT technology. Now, it has made the first step into a new era of computed tomography.
Changing paradigms in breast cancer screening
New imaging approaches such as tomosynthesis and abbreviated MRI are suitable to overcome the limitations of mammography. Experts believe that these possibilities should ultimately be integrated into screening strategies tailored to personal risk.
How can intelligent and personalized CT scanning ease radiology workflow?
As a specialized clinic with a clear mandate for training and research, the University Hospital Erlangen is always seeking out the latest CT technology. Now, it has made the first step into a new era of computed tomography.
Changing paradigms in breast cancer screening
New imaging approaches such as tomosynthesis and abbreviated MRI are suitable to overcome the limitations of mammography. Experts believe that these possibilities should ultimately be integrated into screening strategies tailored to personal risk.
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