Two Hands-on Training (HoT) courses organised by the European School of Urology (ESU) and the EAU Section of Urological Imaging (ESUI) simultaneously commenced on day 2 of the 11th European Multidisciplinary Congress on Urological Cancers (EMUC19).
The ESU/ESUI Hands-on Training Course in Prostate MRI reading for urologists was designed to help urologists understand the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the management of patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and how they can use the procured information.
The faculty members of the HoT course were comprised of internationally-known experts such as Course Chair Dr. Jochen Walz (FR), Prof. Dr. Jurgen Futterer (NL), Dr. Gianluca Giannarini (IT), Prof. Valeria Panebianco (IT) and Dr. Francesco Sanguedolce (ES).
“Why is MRI important to the urologist? For the same reason as computerized tomography (CT) scan has become fundamental in our practice,” said Dr. Sanguedolce.
Delegates were familiarised with the imaging workstation; the basic concepts/principles behind different MRI sequences such as T2-weighted imaging, Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE) imaging; and the viewing order of sequences when interpreting prostate MRI.
The delegates also learned how to use the PI-RADS and Likert scoring system to score MRIs, know more about the standards for a prostate MRI and the quality criteria to meet. Prof. Futterer gave an overview of the minimum requirements to achieve quality MRI images. Prof. Panebianco discussed assessment categories of PI-RADSv2 and the roles of different scores.
Each delegate was provided with a laptop to work with to follow the lectures and partake in exercises.
MRI Fusion biopsy
Through the guidance of Course Chair Dr. Lars Budäus (DE) with mentors Asst. Prof. Jan Philipp Radtke (DE), Dr. Karsten Gunzel (DE), Dr. Silvan Boxler (CH), Dr. Angelika Borkowetz (DE) and Dr. Andreas Maxeiner (DE), delegates learned about the advantages, handling and limitations of MRI Ultrasound fusion biopsies during the HOT course the ESU/ESUI Hands-on Training Course in MRI Fusion biopsy.
The course delivered an overview on MRI reading, technical basics, and different prostate biopsy approaches. Technical considerations, the transrectal or transperineal approach were reviewed and discussed.
The delegates were divided into small groups to gain familiarity with the 5 different Fusion biopsy machines provided during the HOT course. The groups on each machine rotated every 10 minutes.
