The COVID-19 pandemic has put a new focus on the need for low-cost, rapidly acquired images that can provide information quickly on how to manage patients -- and digital x-ray fits the bill perfectly. It may not be as powerful as modalities such as CT and MRI, but clinicians on the front lines of the pandemic are learning how to use the information digital x-ray provides.

In addition, x-ray also has a therapeutic component in the case of interventional radiology, and RSNA 2020 will see a variety of new scientific and educational content here as well. Interventional technology is becoming miniaturized and is delivering higher-quality images, enabling interventionalists to push its use into new clinical applications.

Finally, artificial intelligence (AI) will once again be a dominant theme at this year's RSNA meeting, extending into both diagnostic and interventional x-ray. Look for presentations on AI algorithms that will help clinicians diagnose cases of COVID-19, for example, as well as direct vascular therapies.