1st ECCO-ESGAR Basic Imaging Workshop
Giovanni Maconi and Marietta Iacucci, EduCom Members
 Giovanni Maconi © ECCO |
 Marietta Iacucci © ECCO |
In 2019 the Educational Programme at the ECCO Congress will again include two workshops devoted to IBD imaging. The first will be centered on basic endoscopy, ultrasound and MRI while the second will focus on advancements in intestinal ultrasound. Both workshops will be possible thanks to the extensive cooperation of gastroenterologists with experience in intestinal imaging from ECCO and our partner societies.
The 1st ECCO-ESGAR Basic Imaging Workshop will educate attendees in how to make a precise diagnosis and how to better direct the therapeutic management of IBD patients using the latest imaging technologies. It is designed for gastroenterologists, endoscopists, surgeons, paediatricians, pathologists and other interdisciplinary medical experts interested in diagnostic imaging and endoscopy of Inflammatory Bowel Disease(s) (IBD).
Day 1: Endoscopy
The major aim of the endoscopy portion of the workshop is to increase competence and knowledge with regard to endoscopic diagnosis and lesion management in IBD patients in order to improve patient outcomes.
Endoscopy plays a key role in assessing the extent and grade of inflammation and mucosal healing as well as in the early detection of neoplastic colonic lesions, which is essential for the accurate management of patients with IBD. New advancements in endoscopic techniques, which offer higher definition and optical and digital enhancement, now enable visualisation of the mucosa in fine detail and the characterisation of dysplasia.
 3rd ECCO Endoscopy Workshop at ECCO'18 in Vienna © ECCO |
By means of didactic lectures and interactive video sessions, the workshop will provide participants with cutting-edge information on, and skills in, the use of new and classic endoscopic scoring systems to assess inflammation and mucosal healing. It will provide guidance on how surveillance colonoscopy should be performed for the endoscopic detection and characterisation of colonic lesions and on their endoscopic treatment. Participants will also learn how to write a high-quality endoscopic report that describes accurately and in readily understandable language the endoscopic findings in IBD, with special regard to the evolving terminology relating to advanced endoscopy.
The workshop will offer an introduction on how to apply different endoscopic optical platforms (iSCAN OE, NBI, BLI) with their distinctive characterisation of gastrointestinal IBD inflammation and lesions. Speakers will advise on settings, sequences and the interpretation of electronic and magnification enhancements now widely integrated into endoscopic equipment.
The endoscopy portion of the workshop will be highly interactive and make extensive use of high-quality videos and images to increase the diagnostic confidence of participants. The faculty has been carefully chosen to be the best in the field. The whole picture is made even more colourful by the many videos of real-life clinical cases with panel discussions. There will be ample opportunity to interact with international leading experts in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Day 2: Ultrasound and MRI
 5th ECCO-ESGAR Ultrasound Workshop at ECCO'18 in Vienna © ECCO |
The portion of the workshop on basic intestinal ultrasound and entero-MRI will present the main features, advantages and limitations of these techniques, with the purpose of introducing gastroenterologists to the diagnostic potential of intestinal ultrasonography and providing them with the basics needed in order to read MRI. Ultimately, the purpose is to show the best way to use these tools for assessment of IBD patients and to provide information on how to interact with colleagues, in particular radiologists, when managing IBD patients. This portion of the workshop is therefore aimed at IBD specialists with an interest in bowel ultrasound and radiological imaging and will include practical skills sessions and interactive discussions regarding images of IBD cases.
After two introductory lectures on intestinal ultrasound and entero-MRI, attendees will be divided into small groups that will rotate among six different hands-on workstations. Here, with the help of the expert tutors, including one radiologist and one gastroenterologist, participants will be guided through the cases. They will have the opportunity to see and discuss MRI at workstations and to see and perform sonographic evaluation using a hands-on intestinal ultrasound simulator. Everyone will have the opportunity to experiment with lights and shadows and will learn the limitations and advantages of intestinal ultrasound and MRI in IBD. Furthermore, it will be possible to share experiences and interactively discuss specific clinical situations with expert colleagues and tutors, covering a range of common imaging applications in IBD practice, e.g. early assessment and management of suspected IBD, assessment of Crohn’s Disease activity, detection of extramural complications of IBD such as fistulas and abscesses, evaluation of postoperative recurrence and management of perianal Crohn's Disease.
We hope that this 1st ECCO-ESGAR Basic Imaging Workshop will be very successful and well appreciated and will serve as a stimulus to participants to continue to learn about these techniques. Many IBD specialists around the world have already become skilled in the use of intestinal ultrasound in IBD after initially attending ECCO-ESGAR Imaging Workshops and then gaining practical experience in IBD training centres.
Considering the growing significance of imaging, we are sure that this workshop will appeal to many ECCO colleagues with an interest in endoscopy, bowel ultrasound and radiological imaging in IBD. Please note that spaces are limited, so please register in time to experience this interactive workshop and to share your knowledge with international experts.
We look forward to seeing you in Copenhagen in 2019!
 5th ECCO-ESGAR Ultrasound Workshop at ECCO'18 in Vienna © ECCO |