December 2005

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) held its annual convention at the McCormick place in Chicago during the week after Thanksgiving. The RSNA represents the largest gathering of radiologists from around the world. The convention offers countless symposia and houses an impressive display of new diagnostic imaging technology and post-imaging data manipulation software. THE RSNA convention offers an empowering glimpse into the future of diagnostic imaging and its role in spinecare.

The AASP sent Dr. David Durrant, a member of the Academy Council, to the RSNA. He attended numerous symposia on spine related topics such as image-guided intervention, neuroradiology, CT/PET applications and MR spectroscopic assessment (in vivo biochemical mapping). Some of the information obtained at the convention will be incorporated in to the AASP Public Information Center (PIC) to help broaden patient and public access to available diagnostic and therapeutic options, which they can discuss with their attending spine specialist.

Dr. Durrant met with representatives from numerous companies to investigate their level of interest in periodically submitting information and images for use in a new interactive area of the AASP website entitled New Technology in Spinecare. Select companies may be invited to become educational sponsors to help further the AASP’s education of physicians, patients, and the public about the spine, spine disorders and spinecare. Advanced imaging studies of the spine can be used to help develop online multimedia resources.