ECR 2013 – Final Programme - myESR.org

Dear collAs president of the European Society of Radiology(ESR), it gives me enormous pleasure to welcomeyou to our society’s scientific meeting, the EuropeanCongress of Radiology (ECR). I would like toextend a special welcome to the numerous youngradiologists joining us in Vienna, especially thosevisiting for the first time and those who are attendingthanks to the support of the Invest in the Youthprogramme.This event is the culmination of almost two yearsof intense planning and hard work, by people whohave brought many years of valuable experience tothe process. I would like to extend not only my congratulations,but my heartfelt thanks, to Prof. Bilbaoand to all the members of the planning committees,for assembling a truly exemplary scientific andeducational programme, as well as to the talentedand dedicated ESR staff who have been involved inputting these plans into action.I wrote in the ECR 2013 Preliminary Programmethat everyone involved in the organisation of ourannual meeting was delighted and very proud thatabstract submission rose again this year. The responseto the call for paper abstracts in the summerwas extremely encouraging, and the continuation ofthat response via the EPOS submission system hasdemonstrated that the radiological community continuesto hold our congress in high regard.Speaking of community, being involved in so manydifferent projects in so many different areas of interestover the past year has also brought me intocontact with a vast number of committed and hardworkingpeople, who are a great source of encouragementfor the future of our discipline. I would liketo thank everyone who has contributed to drivingour society forward over the last twelve months.Sadly, one year is far too short to achieve everythingwe set out to accomplish, but I am satisfied that Ican look back on an exciting and very productiveperiod.The ESR’s main activities this year have focusedvery much on international relations, especiallyon a political level. We have established an office inBrussels so that we can take a proactive approach tomaking our collective voice heard in the EuropeanCommission on topics that affect our profession.The biggest issue on the agenda in this respect is theongoing debate regarding the EMF Directive. At thetime of writing, we are optimistic that we will hearpositive news on this matter by the time we meet atthe ECR.We are also intensifying relations with associate institutionalmembers and other societies outside ofEurope. We have organised an international summitfor representatives of non-European partners,which we hope will help us gain a better understandingof how we can and should work together in thefuture. We are also bringing our institutional membersocieties closer to the fold, by having each onerepresented at ESR committee level by its president.I was delighted with the involvement of so manygroups from all over the world in the first InternationalDay of Radiology (IDoR), which tookplace on November 8. Prompted by the success ofthe European Day of Radiology in 2011, IDoR 2012was introduced to provide the first truly global celebrationof radiology. We were very pleased to see somany radiologists joining us in marking the day andhelping to promote our profession. We are also extremelygrateful to both the Radiological Society ofNorth America and the American College of Radiologyfor their joint role in bringing this event to life.Our efforts to strengthen relations with the manyradiological and partner societies throughout theworld will continue at ECR 2013, in the form ofthe ‘ESR Meets’ programme. This year, along withProf. Bilbao’s home country, Spain, we will have thepleasure of welcoming the national radiologicalsocieties of both Chile and South Africa, as well asthis year’s partner society, the truly multidiscipli-6