International Conference on Integrated Medical Imaging in Cardiovascular Diseases (IMIC 2013)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announces its intention to hold the International Conference on Integrated Medical Imaging in Cardiovascular Diseases (IMIC2013). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are an important sub-group of non-communicable diseases and are one of the main priorities in the health care systems of many IAEA Member States. Medical imaging, including molecular nuclear medicine, is extremely important in that it offers strategic advantages in both diagnostic and therapeutic decision making. It provides inputs for diagnosis, staging, treatment, prognosis and follow-up in the management of CVDs. Medical imaging includes techniques such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These techniques provide an excellent opportunity to understand the pathology of individual patients and can therefore serve to facilitate tailored clinical management. Each imaging modality has its advantages and limitations which need to be understood properly by health care professionals dealing with CVDs. Many Member States are actively using, have recently implemented or are planning to acquire these technologies.

The IAEA has been applying many approaches for capacity building in Member States to allow them to optimally utilize medical imaging technologies. These approaches have been including training courses, fellowships, expert missions and conferences, to name a few. In November 2011, the International Conference on Clinical PET and Molecular Nuclear Medicine (IPET-2011) was organized to improve the understanding of clinical PET and molecular nuclear medicine among Member States. This was held at the IAEA’s Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, and was extremely well received by Member States. About 350 participants from all over the world benefited from this conference. Using a similar model, it is proposed to hold this International Conference on Integrated Medical Imaging in Cardiovascular Diseases (IMIC2013).