Ultrasound has a reputation as a portable, relatively cheap technology that frequently serves as a gateway to other, more powerful -- and expensive -- modalities. At this year's RSNA show, look for presentations that emphasize ultrasound's emerging potential in more advanced imaging, even in areas such as personalized medicine -- this year's RSNA theme.
Other sessions indicate that elastography will be a major highlight this year as researchers plumb the technology's potential for detecting signs of malignancy through measurements of tissue stiffness. The technique is showing potential in particular for breast and thyroid lesion characterization.
Also look for scientific sessions on ultrasound computer-aided detection (CAD) and ultrasound contrast (though ultrasound contrast for noncardiac use remains stuck in regulatory limbo in the U.S.).
Among the key refresher courses at RSNA 2010, make sure you don't miss the following:
- Mistakes to avoid in obstetric ultrasound: Sunday, November 28, 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m., RC110, Room N227
- The applications and pitfalls of ultrasound in oncology: Monday, November 29, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC218, Room S405AB
- A course on breast ultrasound, including automated screening, emerging trends in elasticity imaging, and whole-breast ultrasound: Wednesday, December 1, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC521, Room E451B
- The challenges to ultrasound presented by the obesity epidemic: Friday, December 3, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC810, Room S404AB
If you're perusing the poster presentations at Lakeside Center, keep an eye out for the following:
- Software for coregistering previously acquired MR images on real-time ultrasound scans for breast imaging (LL-BRE2001)
- A method for generating structured reports in breast ultrasound using the BI-RADS US lexicon (LL-INE2500)
- Physical principles and clinical applications of tissue elasticity imaging (LL-MSE1288)
- Clinical applications for 3D ultrasound (LL-MSE2663)
- How to identify bowel pathology in an otherwise "negative" abdominal ultrasound scan (LL-GIE2287)
To view the complete RSNA scientific program and abstracts directly, just click here. See you in Chicago!
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=crop&h=100&q=70&w=100)
![Examples of ultrasound findings and techniques. (A) Images in a 39-year-old male patient with a mass in the left thigh. The mass is heterogeneous on the B-mode US image (compared with the patient in D) and showed increased microvascularity (superb microvascular imaging [SMI]) and shear-wave elastography (SWE) values. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy (with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma in surgical specimen). (B) Images in an 18-year-old male patient with a mass in the left leg. The mass is hypoechoic on the B-mode image, with no other findings suggestive of malignancy. The lesion is in contact with the cortex of the tibia, which is slightly irregular. CT revealed a doubtful anteromedial tibial erosion. The microvascular study demonstrated high vascularization, suggestive of malignancy. Periosteal Ewing sarcoma was diagnosed with both histologic and immunohistochemical confirmation. (C) Images in a 69-year-old female patient with a lump growing on the outside of the left leg. Multiple SWE examinations were performed (please note the high values obtained in the measurements, whereas the color map highlights the stiffness relative to adjacent tissues). SMI showed areas of increased vascularization to target for sampling. Undifferentiated spindle cell sarcoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with residual leiomyosarcoma in the surgical specimen after neoadjuvant therapy. (D) Images in a 56-year-old female patient with a mass in the right thigh. The mass is heterogeneous at both B-mode ultrasound (similar to patient A) and MRI (coronal T2-weighted spectral attenuated inversion recovery [SPAIR]; T1-weighted pre-contrast and postcontrast imaging), which even shows uptake after the administration of paramagnetic contrast material, which is traditionally suggestive of malignancy. Low values at SMI and elastography are suggestive of benignity. Spindle cell lipoma was diagnosed at biopsy, with atypical spindle cell lipomatous tumor in the surgical specimen.](https://img.auntminnie.com/mindful/smg/workspaces/default/uploads/2026/08/images-radiol250278fig2.APCFLSvX6p.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)
