Cardiac imaging highlighted at Bienn...(rdiac CT with sessions being held in eve...),Health

"Revolutionary advances in cardiac imaging and its applications will be featured during this meeting. Additionally, ICNC9 provides a great opportunity for health care professionals to meet and develop new strategies for imaging within clinical practice" says Professor Hendel.

At the 2009 meeting, there will be a particular focus on integrating the different imaging technologies for the ultimate benefit of patients. "When treating patients, clinicians shouldn't apply modality based thinking, but should be using the technology best suited to the clinical questions they want to answer," says Professor Knuuti.

An example of the way imaging technologies can be helpfully combined is using CT for information on the anatomy of coronary arteries and nuclear tests for information on haemodynamics. "Combining these two modalities provides both the best diagnostic and prognostic information, with a much more complete picture for the patient," says Professor Bax.

A unique feature of ICNC is that the programme can be accessed at different levels of expertise. "Essential sessions" review fundamentals to help new comers to the field get up to speed, "Core Curriculum sessions" address the current big clinical questions, and "Advance sessions" consider the future directions. Technological advances to be covered will include:

• Revolutionary cameras that that have been developed to reduce the time required to obtain images, and importantly to reduce radiation dose.

• Use of imaging technology in the emergency room.

• New radionuclide agents to image the neuronal and molecular function of the heart with MIBG.

• New applications of cardiac imaging to define the disease process.

The scientific programme, which includes a total of 285 original scientific and clinical contributions, including 42 oral abstracts, wil
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