Advanced Breast & Pelvis MR Imaging

September 23–25, 2010
Verona, IT

In order to register, please click here:

Course organiser:
Rahel Kubik / Baden, CH

Local organiser:
Riccardo Manfredi / Verona, IT

Course venue:
Istituto di Radiologia
Università di Verona
Policlinico “G.B. Rossi”
10 L.go L.A. Scuro
IT - 37134 Verona

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

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

Programme:
Please click here to download the programme as PDF.

The aim of this course:
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 Verona, Italy, 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.

Course Programme:
Please click here to download the programme as PDF.

Participation Requirements:
Physicians who have attended the School of MRI Applied MR Techniques courses or have good knowledge in MR techniques 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 Optimisation, Benign Disease of the Uterus
• Optimised 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
• Optimised 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
• Optimised 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
• Optimised 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
• Optimised 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