International Conference on Integrated Medical Imaging in Cardiovascular Diseases, 10 – 14 October 2016
In 2016, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will hold the International Conference on Integrated Medical Imaging in Cardiovascular Diseases (IMIC 2016) in order to follow up on the most recent advances in the use of medical imaging in the management of CVDs and to support professional development in Member States. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are steadily increasing both in developed and developing countries, the situation is particularly alarming in low and middle income countries, as 80% of the mortality burden is borne by them. Medical imaging techniques such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), echocardiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), offer strategic advantages in both diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. These techniques represent very useful tools to understand the pathology of individual patients in detail and can therefore serve to facilitate specifically tailored clinical management. Each imaging modality has its advantages and limitations which need to be understood properly by health care professionals dealing with CVDs. Given their high usefulness, integrating these techniques into the health care systems of Member States can provide an invaluable contribution to improving CVD management.