Dear AuntMinnieEurope Member,
Much was said at ECR 2018 about the likely impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on radiology's future, but very little attention has been given to how AI might affect scanner sales.
Our regular market columnist, Steve Holloway, has corrected this oversight by examining trends in the CT sector. His analysis is always worth a close look. To do so, go to our CT Community, or click here.
Research unveiled at the Vienna congress confirmed that 3D printing is developing rapidly. In back-to-back presentations at the meeting, investigators from Switzerland and Italy elaborated on the potential of using the technology to facilitate left atrial appendage closure. Find out more in the Advanced Visualization Community, or click here.
Also, a group from Spain received a cum laude award for a practical and timely e-poster about hybrid 3D printing, which combines CT scans and MR images and can reduce chest tumor surgery times.
To round off our special focus, we have a feature article about a U.K.-based manufacturer of 3D-printed models and related services for a number of National Health Service hospital groups. Click here to learn more about its services and operation.
It's hard to imagine a radiology department without an MRI scanner, but what role is the modality likely to play in another decade or so? What developments and changes can we expect in the next few years? Learn more about MRI's future in the MRI Community, or by clicking here.
Finally, I wanted to correct a statement made in last week's newsletter about ECR 2018.
Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, and China were in fact the guest countries for the congress, not the host nations. The host and organizer was the European Society of Radiology, as in previous years. Italy, Pakistan, and the continent of Africa will be the guest countries for ECR 2019. For an interview with the president of ECR 2019, click here.
