Road to RSNA 2012: Ultrasound Preview
    By Kate Madden Yee, AuntMinnie.com staff writer
    November 7, 2012

    Could ultrasound be the primary screening test for breast cancer? Is the public served by the increasing use of handheld ultrasound? These questions and many more will be addressed at the upcoming RSNA meeting in Chicago.

    On Sunday, November 25, RSNA attendees can check out a scientific session all about breast ultrasound -- both cancer diagnosis and screening (10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., SSA01, Arie Crown Theater). There's also a session on physics research that ranges from exploring the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound to monitor cancer treatment response to quantifying prostate motion during transrectal ultrasound imaging (10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m., SSA21, Room S405AB).

    On Sunday afternoon, ultrasound practitioners will want to take advantage of a refresher course on 3D imaging topics in women's health (2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m., RC110, Room S403A), or a workshop about techniques for interventional sonography and thermal ablation (2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m., RC152, Room E264).

    Road to RSNA 2012: Ultrasound Preview Monday, November 26, will bring an array of refresher courses, from ultrasound diagnosis and management of adnexal cystic masses (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC210, Room N226) to a master class in musculoskeletal ultrasound (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC231, Room E258). Also that morning, a gastrointestinal series will offer an overview of advances in hepatic imaging (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., VSGI21, N227), while in the afternoon, RSNA attendees can check out a scientific paper session devoted to genitourinary imaging of the pregnant patient (3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., SSE10, Room E353B).

    On Tuesday, November 27, don't miss the musculoskeletal ultrasound series (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., VSMK31, Room E450A). An afternoon scientific session will explore breast ultrasound topics, such as how automated breast ultrasound performs diagnostically and whether triple-negative breast cancer manifests certain ultrasound characteristics (3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., SSJ01, Arie Crown Theater).

    On Wednesday, November 28, RSNA attendees can explore a multisession course on the essentials of ultrasound, including imaging the gallbladder and bile ducts, thyroid sonography, and carotid ultrasound (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., MSES41, Room S100AB). Refresher courses on Wednesday morning will highlight topics such as hematuria and flank pain (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC507, Room E353B), clinical ultrasound technology (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC510, Room N229), and ultrasound for thyroid cancer (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC531, Room E352).

    Also on Wednesday, be sure to check out a "controversy session" during which a panel that includes experts from radiology, emergency medicine, and industry will discuss whether handheld ultrasound is a threat to radiology (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., SPSC41, Room S404CD).

    What's happening on Thursday, November 29? Take a new look at an old topic -- ultrasound of the bowel -- at a morning refresher course (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC610, Room S405AB). In the afternoon, RSNA attendees can check out a "hot topic" session on imaging evaluation of inflammatory arthritis (3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., SPSH52, Room E451B) or avail themselves of one of a number of refresher courses, from adrenal imaging (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., RC707, Room E353B), to mistakes to avoid in obstetric ultrasound (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., RC710, Room E451B), to real-time interventional ultrasound (4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m., RC752, Room E264).

    On Friday, November 30, courses will include abdominal ultrasound case studies (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC810, Room S402AB), breast ultrasound (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC815, Room E451B), or a workshop on ultrasound-guided breast procedures (8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., RC852, Room E264).

    For highlights of the many ultrasound papers scheduled for presentation at the RSNA 2012 meeting, read on. To view the RSNA's listing of abstracts for this year's scientific and educational program, click here.
    Scientific and Educational Presentations
    US alone compares well to mammography for cancer detection
    Sunday, November 25 | 10:45 a.m.-10:55 a.m. | SSA01-01 | Arie Crown Theater
    Could ultrasound serve as the primary screening test for breast cancer? In this Sunday morning presentation, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh will discuss results from a study that used American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) 6666 data to evaluate outcomes of screening if ultrasound were the primary screening modality.
    Screening US valuable for women with dense breast tissue
    Sunday, November 25 | 10:55 a.m.-11:05 a.m. | SSA01-02 | Arie Crown Theater
    Screening ultrasound is a valuable tool for women with dense breast tissue, as errors in mammographic interpretation can be high -- up to 28% according to recent data, researchers from South Korea will report in this scientific session.
    ABUS plus mammography finds cancer early in women with dense tissue
    Sunday, November 25 | 11:05 a.m.-11:15 a.m. | SSA01-03 | Arie Crown Theater
    Screening with automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) -- as an adjunct to digital mammography -- detects early-stage, node-negative invasive carcinoma in asymptomatic women with dense breast tissue, according to researchers from George Washington University Medical Center. And finding these cancers could reduce breast cancer mortality rates.
    Contrast-enhanced US tracks cancer response to drug therapy
    Sunday, November 25 | 11:15 a.m.-11:25 a.m. | SSA21-04 | Room S405AB
    Volumetric contrast-enhanced ultrasound can track positive early cancer response to systemic drug therapy, according to a presentation to be given by researchers from the University of Alabama on Sunday morning.
    Annual breast US benefits women with dense tissue
    Sunday, November 25 | 11:25 a.m.-11:35 a.m. | SSA01-05 | Arie Crown Theater
    Since the 2009 passage of the breast density notification law in Connecticut, radiologists have a legal obligation to inform patients with mammographically dense breast tissue that they may benefit from the addition of screening breast ultrasound. But how effective is that second round of screening?
    3D subharmonic imaging better than harmonics for in vivo perfusion estimates
    Sunday, November 25 | 11:25 a.m.-11:35 a.m. | SSA21-05 | Room S405AB
    3D contrast-enhanced subharmonic imaging works well to estimate perfusion in vivo, according to a presentation to be given on Sunday morning by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
    US, MRI tumor measurements can predict residual disease
    Sunday, November 25 | 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m. | LL-BRS-SU5A | Lakeside Learning Center
    How best can doctors assess residual disease in inflammatory breast cancer patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy? Find out in this Sunday poster presentation.
    CEUS comparable to MDCT for managing colorectal cancer patients
    Sunday, November 25 | 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m. | LL-GIS-SU2A | Lakeside Learning Center
    Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is comparable to MDCT in assessing patients undergoing antiangiogenic drug-based neoadjuvant therapy for colorectal cancer liver metastasis, according researchers from Italy.
    Elastography offers noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis
    Monday, November 26 | 8:55 a.m.-9:05 a.m. | VSGI21-02 | Room N227
    Steatosis does not affect shear-wave elastography estimation of liver fibrosis -- but inflammation does, according to a presentation to be given on Monday by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital.
    Contrast US identifies malignant, benign venous thrombosis
    Monday, November 26 | 9:05 a.m.-9:15 a.m. | VSGI21-03 | Room N227
    Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) effectively differentiates malignant and benign venous thrombosis associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to researchers at Toronto General Hospital.
    Uterine artery Doppler predicts pregnancy-induced hypertension
    Monday, November 26 | 3:00 p.m.-3:10 p.m. | SSE10-01 | Room E353B
    Can uterine artery Doppler imaging predict hypertensive disorders in pregnancy? Yes, according to this Monday afternoon presentation to be given by researchers from India.
    US works to evaluate prevalence of iliopsoas bursitis
    Tuesday, November 27 | 9:50 a.m.-10:00 a.m. | VSMK31-06 | Room E450A
    Can ultrasound help clinicians evaluate the prevalence of iliopsoas bursitis in patients suffering from symptomatic hip osteoarthritis? Researchers from the University of Milan believe the answer is yes, as they will explain in this scientific session.
    US-guided cryoneurolysis is less-invasive option for nerve pain
    Tuesday, November 27 | 11:15 a.m.-11:25 a.m. | VSMK31-11 | Room E450A
    Ultrasound-guided cryoneurolysis could be a less-invasive alternative to other methods of nerve ablation, as nonmyelin fibers and vessels are spared, according to this scientific session from New York City researchers.
    ABUS detects suspicious lesions found on breast MRI
    Tuesday, November 27 | 3:00 p.m.-3:10 p.m. | SSJ01-01 | Arie Crown Theater
    Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) could prove helpful for evaluating additional suspicious lesions identified by breast MRI, and it's faster and more cost-effective than handheld second-look ultrasound, according to a study that will be presented on Tuesday afternoon.
    Triple-negative breast cancer shows specific US characteristics
    Tuesday, November 27 | 3:10 p.m.-3:20 p.m. | SSJ01-02 | Arie Crown Theater
    Certain ultrasound characteristics can help clinicians identify triple-negative breast cancer, according to a study to be presented in this scientific session.
    US-guided core-needle breast biopsy OK for preop staging
    Tuesday, November 27 | 3:20 p.m.-3:30 p.m. | SSJ01-03 | Arie Crown Theater
    Which is better for assessing metastasis in newly diagnosed breast cancer: fine-needle aspiration or core biopsy? It's an important question, according to Finnish researchers, as the presence of axillary metastasis is the most significant prognostic factor in invasive breast cancer.
    ABUS boosts mammography's performance
    Tuesday, November 27 | 3:30 p.m.-3:40 p.m. | SSJ01-04 | Arie Crown Theater
    What does automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) contribute to cancer screening when it's used with mammography in women with dense breasts? Researchers from the University of Chicago will present findings that address this question on Tuesday afternoon.
    'White wall' characteristic on ABUS indicates benign lesions
    Tuesday, November 27 | 3:40 p.m.-3:50 p.m. | SSJ01-05 | Arie Crown Theater
    An echogenic "white wall" in a hypoechoic lesion visualized on automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) suggests a benign lesion, and patients may not need to be recalled for further evaluation, according to researchers from George Washington University Medical Center.
    Image retrieval may assist in cancer diagnosis on breast ultrasound
    Tuesday, November 27 | 3:50 p.m.-4:00 p.m. | SSJ22-06 | Room S403B
    This scientific paper presentation will describe how a content-based image retrieval technique shows potential for assisting radiologists in diagnosing breast cancer on breast ultrasound studies.
    Elastography offers alternative for evaluating soft-tissue lesions
    Tuesday, November 27 | 5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. | LL-MKS-TU4C | Lakeside Learning Center
    Ultrasound elastography could be a useful tool for evaluating superficial soft-tissue lesions, according to this Tuesday poster presentation from Italian researchers.
    Shear-wave elastography improves breast US specificity
    Tuesday, November 27 | 5:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. | LL-BRS-TU1C | Lakeside Learning Center
    Shear-wave elastography improves breast ultrasound's ability to distinguish benign from malignant solid breast nodules, according to a study by researchers from the University of Toronto.
    CAD may improve breast ultrasound specificity
    Wednesday, November 28 | 3:00 p.m.-3:10 p.m. | SSM01-01 | Arie Crown Theater
    This scientific session will describe how a computer-aided detection (CAD) scheme can help distinguish between benign and malignant masses on breast ultrasound exams.