RANZCR New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting 2022 Highlights Cutting-edge Imaging Technologies

• PSMA PET scans have the highest sensitivity in prostate cancer detection and diagnosis, delivering better health outcomes for men.
• MRI delivers incremental value in diagnosing gynaecological tumour, which contributes to improved health outcomes for women.
• Advances in dynamic ultrasound techniques allows early detection of endometriosis, a debilitating but underdiagnosed disorder that affect approximately 10% of New Zealand women at reproductive age.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) highlights the important role of cutting-edge imaging technologies in cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment to improve men’s and women’s health outcomes on the second day of its New Zealand Annual Scientific Meeting 2022.

Dr Gary Ulaner (USA) reviews appropriate applications of prostate specific membrane antigen (PMSA) PET scans and tackles difficulties in scan interpretation that can determine the spread of prostate cancer and detect recurrence sites early for the best treatment plan. Dr Rachael McEwing (NZ) reveals advances in dynamic ultrasound techniques which can assess pelvic organ mobility and tenderness for early detection of endometriosis, a common chronic disease that affects around 120,000 women in New Zealand but often takes up to ten years to diagnose. Dr Iva Petkovska (USA) joins the session to highlight the value of MRI in detecting gynaecological tumours. Dr Helen Moore (NZ) approaches rare cases of fibroids, a common condition detectable in 30% of women over the age of 30.

Clin A/Prof Sanjay Jeganathan, RANZCR President, said: “Medical imaging plays a central role in diagnosis and treatment during a patient’s journey. Advancements in medical imaging contribute to improved patient outcomes. It is our pleasure to have international and local luminaries join us in New Zealand to have inspiring, meaningful conversations about the latest innovations in the field.”

Prostate specific membrane antigen PET with Pyl: Pearls and pitfalls by Dr Gary Ulaner (USA) at 8:30 – 9:20am.
The added value of MRI for evaluation of adnexal lesions and the pearls and pitfalls in gynaecological oncology imaging by Dr Iva Petkovska (USA) at 10:30-11:00am and 11:50-12:20am.
Endometriosis – Beyond the ovary by Dr Rachael McEwing (NZ) at 11:25 -11:50am.
Fibroids – An underestimated foe and imaging of female pelvic mesh implants by Dr Helen Moore (NZ) at 11:00-11:25am today and 11:00-11:30am, Sunday 7 August.