::.. College of Radiology

WISER after one weekend with neuroradiologists Karel, Meng and Jacques – 25-26 Sep 2004!

By Dr Evelyn Ho

Some members of the organising committee of the seminar with invited speakers

Jacques Moret, Chef de Service & Professeur, Service de Neuroradiology Interventionalle et Functionnelle; Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild in Paris, France. He shared his extensive experience in neuro-endovascular therapy for stroke patients as well as for treatment of aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation (abnormal blood vessels). He also spoke on a new material used in the endovascular treatment of vascular diseases of the brain.

Karel ter Brugge, Head, Division of Neuroradiology, Professor of Radiology & Surgery, University of Toronto, Canada. Dr ter Brugge spoke on the diagnosis, imaging and management of the vessel diseases of the brain in both adults and children. Dr ter Brugge worked the hardest as he also had to give a dinner talk!

An angiogram – a contrast examination of one of the arteries (internal carotid artery) within the brain shows an abnormal vasculature - arteriovenous malformation

Meng Law, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Neuroradiologist, New York University (NYU) School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, NYU Medical Centre from New York, America gave his take on Magnetic Resonance Imaging spectroscopy in the patients presenting to his unit. He also spoke of the role of MRI in epilepsy and in stroke patients.

An MRI of the brain showing a bleed (haemorrhage).

A Weekend Invitation Seminar for Education in Radiology was held from 25-26 September 2004. This was attended by radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, radiographers and other technicians involved in neuroimaging. This was co-organised by Sunway Medical Centre and Hospital Kuala Lumpur with support from GE Healthcare, EV3-Micro therapeutics, Boston Scientific and Siemens.

The field of neuroradiology and intervention (field of imaging and therapeutic procedures for diseases of the brain and its vessels specifically) is rapidly advancing just as other fields in radiology are as well. This seminar follows on the heels of the 12^th ASEAN Association of Radiology Congress (16-19 Sep 2004) which showcased the latest trends in imaging.

Neuroradiology is a radiological subspecialty and speakers from premier centres in France, Canada and America shared their experience, tips and tricks in handling what were previously “untreatable” or only surgically treatable conditions of the brain vessels and strokes.

The impact for the man on the street?
With increasing complexity and sophistication of non-surgical treatment procedures for the brain blood vessels, adequate and high quality training is now necessary in interventional neuroradiology before radiologists should practise interventional procedures in the brain.

By ensuring that radiologists are up to date on advances in imaging and non surgical treatment of some diseases of the brain, high quality up to date radiological services are assured for Malaysians. In addition, colleagues in the neuroscience community are also exposed to new alternatives to surgical treatment in a potentially difficult area – the human brain! Where previously, there may have been no effective treatment options for management of some brain diseases – such as stroke and very florid abnormal brain vessels – now there exists options and alternatives that may change the face of the natural disease history. Unfortunately, non surgical treatment is also expensive as catheters, balloons and special coils used in the interventional procedures are high cost tools, not to mention the expertise of the neuroradiological interventionalist.

Even so, such advances can only be good news – offering hope to humankind!

>>> Click Here to return to news headlines

Terms of Use

Last Updated:
Tuesday, 04 January, 2005