L. Dalla Palma

Tomorrow’s radiologist: what future?

Today’s radiology is experiencing two major trends, one negative and one positive. The first is the so–called turf war, in other words, the progressive invasion of the imaging domain by other specialists such as cardiologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, gynaecologists etc. who are taking over various techniques from ultrasonography (US) to computed tomography (CT) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this process, they are aided by new technologies such as picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) and computed–aided diagnosis CAD and by radiology technologists who collaborate with them, replacing radiologists. The positive aspect is the outstanding technological evolution: the advent of molecular imaging, optical imaging, nanotechnologies, teleradiology and percutaneous gene therapy. While dramatically expanding the diagnostic possibilities down to the subcellular level, these techniques demand new forms of training in radiology and interdisciplinary cooperation. Tomorrow’s radiologist will need to acquire appropriate clinical knowledge, restore contact with the patient to take on a prominent role in the diagnostic process, learn the basic sciences, foster a multidisciplinary approach and finally be able to use the Internet for learning and continuing education. Tomorrow’s radiologists will survive if they learn to reinvent themselves.Today’s radiology is experiencing two major trends, one negative and one positive. The first is the so–called turf war, in other words, the progressive invasion of the imaging domain by other specialists such as cardiologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, gynaecologists etc. who are taking over various techniques from ultrasonography (US) to computed tomography (CT) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this process, they are aided by new technologies such as picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) and computed–aided diagnosis CAD and by radiology technologists who collaborate with them, replacing radiologists. The positive aspect is the outstanding technological evolution: the advent of molecular imaging, optical imaging, nanotechnologies, teleradiology and percutaneous gene therapy. While dramatically expanding the diagnostic possibilities down to the subcellular level, these techniques demand new forms of training in radiology and interdisciplinary cooperation. Tomorrow’s radiologist will need to acquire appropriate clinical knowledge, restore contact with the patient to take on a prominent role in the diagnostic process, learn the basic sciences, foster a multidisciplinary approach and finally be able to use the Internet for learning and continuing education. Tomorrow’s radiologists will survive if they learn to reinvent themselves.

ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN ONCOLOGY A review

The applications of ultrasonography (US) in oncology have rapidly increased during the past few years. Technical improvements, development of new technologies, easy availability, and non-invasiveness are some of the reasons for the rapid diffusion of US. Nowadays a large number of malignancies, both superficial and deep-seated, can be examined by US. In order to give an overview of the present role of US in oncology it is necessary to discuss many different topics including tissue characterization, diagnostic role, staging, follow-up and future developments.

Ultrasound Examination of Fluid Complex Abdominal Lesions and Correlation with Computed Tomography

Ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) criteria for “solid” and “liquid” abdominal lesions are well established and have long been codified. Nevertheless, there are a number of lesions which cannot be classified as solid or liquid and which are usually described as complex, either because they tend to show intermediate findings or because they have characteristics of both solid and liquid lesions at the same time. Based upon US and CT criteria there are two fundamental patterns of “complex” lesions [3]

Computed Tomography of the Spine in Multiple Myeloma

The radiologic evaluation of multiple myeloma (MM) is based upon conventional radiology (CR), which has a good sensitivity in the detection of osseous lesions, superior, in this situation, to bone scintigraphy [4, 6, 8, 9].