November 4-6, 2010

Course organiser:
Rahel Kubik / Baden, CH

Preliminary faculty:
B. Hamm, T. Huismann, R. Kubik, V. Martinez de Vega, T. Metens, M. Müller-Schimpfle, A. Rieber-Brambs, A. Rockall, D. Weishaupt

Course duration: (updated July 2010!)
Thursday morning – Saturday noon

Technical advances have opened up new diagnostic applications
in female MR imaging with MRI gaining an increasing
role in this patient population also in a clinical routine setting.
This course will offer an overview of current MR imaging
strategies for the diagnosis of breast and pelvic pathologies
including fetal imaging and pelvic floor MRI. Established
as well as potential future indications will be reviewed
compared to other imaging examinations. We will discuss
hard- and software requirements of MR systems for optimal
clinical use as well as the optimisation of imaging strategies
and diagnostic advantages arising from the application
of contrast agents. The aim of the course is furthermore
to convey indepth knowledge of morphological changes
of the breast and pelvic female organs under pathological
conditions. We would like to welcome you to this course in
Dubai, UAE, where European experts in the field
of female MR imaging will be given the opportunity to share
their knowledge with you in plenary lectures and small group
exercises.

Participation Requirements:
Physicians who have attended the School of MRI Applied
MR Techniques courses or have good knowledge from
other sources; some experience in applied MRI of the
Breast and Pelvis.

Learning Objectives

MR Imaging Techniques (Breast & Female Pelvis)
• Hard- and software requirements
• Basic pulse sequences for breast and pelvic MRI
• Advanced pulse sequences (including ultrafast sequences)
• Image post processing
• Recent and future developments

Female Pelvis: Protocol Optimization, Benign Disease of the Uterus
• Optimized MR imaging strategy
• Normal MR appearance of the female pelvis according to age and menstrual cycle
• Mullerian duct abnormalities: indication for MRI compared to HSG and US
• To diagnose and differentiate leiomyoma from adenomyosis

MR Imaging of the Cervix and the Uterus: Malignant Lesions
• Optimized MR imaging strategy
• MR appearance of benign and malignant lesions of the cervix
• MR appearance of benign and malignant lesions of the uterus
• Staging of malignancies
• Follow-up of malignant tumours

MR Imaging of the Ovaries
• Optimized MR imaging strategy
• Appearance of the normal ovaries on T1-, and T2- weighted images and the enhancement patterns
• Indications for MRI compared to US and CT for imaging in patients with adnexal masses
• Benign and malignant lesions
• Staging and follow-up of ovarian carcinoma

MR Imaging of the Pelvic Floor
• Hard- and software requirements
• Application of open magnet systems
• Optimized MR imaging strategy
• Anatomy of the pelvic floor
• Indications for MRI in the incontinent patient
• Anorectal diseases

MRI in the Obstetric Patient / Fetal MRI
• Safety considerations
• Contrast agents in the pregnant and nursing patient
• Optimized MR imaging strategy, including ultrafast sequences
• Indications for MRI in the obstetric population
• MRI of the healthy fetus and the uteroplacental unit
• Morphological changes in fetal malformation and pathology

Technical Aspects of Breast MRI
• Hard- and software requirements
• Currently used 2D and 3D techniques
• Post-processing of the source images
• Importance of temporal and spatial resolution
• New sequences: Diffusion weighted image (DWI) and spectroscopy of the breast.

MR Imaging of the Breast
• Breast imaging protocol
• BIRADS-classification for breast MRI
• Indications of breast
• Pitfalls & limitations
• Interventional techniques in breast MRI
• Breast MRI following breast surgery
• Breast implants and implant failure

MRI of the Breast: Screening the high Risk Population
• Pros and Cons of breast cancer screening using MRI
• How to select women who benefit most?
• How and when to perform MRI?

MRI: Lymph node Staging
• Imaging strategy
• Plain MRI
• Gadolinium- und USPIO-enhanced MRI
• Lymphatic spread in uterine tumours