Thursday, September 24, 2015 (ESR) – Children will take centre stage on November 8 as celebrations for the International Day of Radiology (IDoR) will unfold all around the world to highlight the role of radiologists in the detection and treatment of paediatric diseases.
For the fourth year in a row, more than 120 radiological and medical societies have joined the initiative, including more than 40 European, 20 North American, 13 Latin American, and 11 Asian national radiology societies, as well as five African societies representing 26 countries.
IDoR is organised each year by the European Society of Radiology, the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America. This year, the initiative is also supported by the European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR), the Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR) and the World Federation of Pediatric Imaging (WFPI). All three of these organisations have organised or actively participated in various IDoR activities to help stress the importance of radiology in the management of paediatric diseases.
“Imaging in children has many unique and specific features; it is adjusted to the needs of children. IDoR will highlight the efforts of paediatric radiologists throughout the world, whose work benefits children’s health immensely,” said ESR Communication and External Affairs Committee Chairman Boris Brkljačić.
The involvement of the radiation protection campaigns EuroSafe Imaging and Image Gently reflects another key objective of the organisers, i.e. to raise awareness of the necessity of reducing radiation exposure in young patients.
“Radioprotection is gaining much interest among both the population and legislators; the importance of optimising our techniques to minimise the risk associated with radiation is more evident in paediatric patients than anywhere else,” said ESR President Lluis Donoso Bach.
Radiologists will celebrate their discipline through a wide range of activities, from press conferences and public lectures to open days at hospitals and social events. The WFPI is also holding a video and photograph contest via YouTube, Instagram and Twitter, to promote paediatric radiology. Winners will be awarded a prize and will be featured in the International Day of Radiology celebrations.
The ESR, ESPR and SPR have produced a book on paediatric radiology, comprising articles written by over 40 international experts, to give an insight into the work of paediatric radiologists.
