Physicians, sonographers, radiologists, medical students and other professionals gathered in New York at the end of March for the 2018 American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) Convention. Experts from more than 20 medical ultrasound specialties hosted a range of sessions to teach, inform and engage medical professionals to improve patient care. It was incredibly successful, with a record amount of social media activity happening during the conference and more abstracts presented than ever before.
The AIUM conference 2018 offered more hands-on learning sessions than previous years, along with poster presentations, educational sessions, meet-the-professor tables and friendly competition among a record number of medical schools at the SonoSlam. Attendees had numerous opportunities to learn about the growing role of ultrasound in medicine and get practical tips for their practice.
The Rise of Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Artificial Intelligence
One of the hot topics during the conference was the increasing use of point-of-care ultrasound, particularly in emergency rooms and critical care settings. Ultrasound is becoming the go-to imaging tool for fast, accurate and inexpensive diagnosis.
Point-of-care ultrasound took center stage during the plenary session speech. Speaker John Lawrence, physician and president of the board of directors for Doctors Without Borders USA, discussed how the organization plans to use ultrasound, including who it will train, how it will train them and for what specialties. The goal is to use ultrasound more effectively in areas with limited resources as part of larger telemedicine initiatives.
The other hot topic at the AIUM conference 2018 was the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in ultrasound. This refers to using algorithms that allow the machine to read scans and distinguish between a normal result and one that requires further evaluation. GE Healthcare is researching this technology using GE Health Cloud to deploy the algorithms to smart machines. Medical error accounts for 10 percent of all deaths in the U.S., according to a GE Healthcare report, and machine learning aims to reduce those errors and support medical care.
Other Pearls of Wisdom From the AIUM Conference 2018
In addition to the hot topics described above, attendees gained a wealth of knowledge — and Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit — across specialties. Sessions detailed the latest in many different areas of focus in gynecology, including:
- Residency training — Some sessions reviewed training competencies related to ultrasound imaging for OB/GYN residents;
- Contrast-enhanced imaging — In addition to learning how to perform these scans, attendees walked away with simple tips for improving the patient experience, such as referring to contrast as an "ultrasound-enhancing agent" to reduce the stigma of contrast agents; and
- Classification of ovarian masses — Physician Rochelle Andreotti unveiled the American College of Radiology's Ovarian-Adnexal Imaging Reporting and Data System (O-RADS), the risk stratification and management system for ultrasound, during a packed lecture on adnexal masses.
Poster sessions detailed some of the latest research in gynecologic ultrasound, which revealed that:
- Transvaginal ultrasound can be the first-line choice for detection of intestinal deep endometriosis.
- 4D tomography ultrasound is a reliable method for evaluating pelvic floor issues.
- 3D transvaginal ultrasound with power Doppler provides fast evaluation of locally advanced cervical cancer.
Pelvic floor TUI
Pelvic floor using Tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI)
The AIUM conference 2018 featured many packed sessions, and it offered myriad opportunities for medical professionals to learn from and network with their peers and industry experts. Most importantly, it enabled attendees to return to their practice with new tools and insights for implementing ultrasound, improving patient care and boosting patient satisfaction.
