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DECEMBER 2025 EMAIL NEWSLETTER
European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
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EUROSON 2026, Lublin Poland
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EUROSON 2026: Advancing Ultrasound Practice in Lublin, Poland
The European ultrasound community is gearing up for one of the most anticipated events in our field — EUROSON 2026, taking place from 11th to 14th June 2026 in the historic and vibrant city of Lublin, Poland. Organized under the auspices of EFSUMB — the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology — this congress promises to be a dynamic forum for education, collaboration, and innovation in ultrasound across medical disciplines.
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A Platform for Learning, Sharing and Networking
EUROSON 2026, hosted by the Polish Society of Ultrasound (PTU), will bring together clinicians, researchers, educators, and industry experts to explore the latest advancements in diagnostic and interventional ultrasound. With a comprehensive program of keynote lectures, interactive sessions, and hands-on workshops, delegates will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge, engage in scientific discussions, and contribute to shaping the future of ultrasound practice across Europe.
The event will be held at the modern Lublin Conference Centre, a state-of-the-art venue conveniently located near Lublin’s main transport links. Participants can look forward to an enriching professional experience in a city where centuries of history meet contemporary innovation.
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Key Dates & Registration
Important dates for prospective attendees include:
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Abstract submission opens: December 1st 2025
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Registration opens: February 15th 2026
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Abstract submission deadline: February 28th 2026
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Early-bird registration deadline: June 11th – 14th 2026 (the congress dates)
Registration fees are structured to support wide participation from the ultrasound community, with special rates for EFSUMB member societies, young sonographers, students, and various specialists. Early registration ensures access to the full scientific program and other congress offerings.
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Scientific & Educational Highlights
EUROSON congresses are renowned for their scientific rigor and diversity. Although the full scientific program for EUROSON 2026 is still under development at the time of writing, past meetings have featured:
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Cutting-edge sessions spanning abdominal, vascular, musculoskeletal, and interventional ultrasound
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Case-based discussions and clinical updates
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Dedicated courses for trainees, young investigators, and specialists
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Opportunities to present abstracts and engage with peers on emerging research and clinical practice
As always, the congress will include awards and recognition for outstanding scientific contributions — a hallmark of EUROSON’s commitment to fostering excellence in ultrasound research and practice.
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Lublin — A City of Culture and Innovation
Delegates attending EUROSON 2026 will have the chance to experience the rich cultural heritage of Lublin, often called the gateway between East and West. The city’s mix of medieval architecture, vibrant cultural life, and modern conference facilities creates an inspiring backdrop for scientific exchange and professional networking.
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Join Us in Shaping the Future
As the deadline for abstract submission approaches, we encourage all EFSUMB members — clinicians, educators, researchers, and trainees alike — to participate in EUROSON 2026. Whether you are presenting your work, expanding your clinical expertise, or connecting with colleagues from across Europe, this congress is an unmissable opportunity to help drive ultrasound practice forward.
Stay tuned for updates on the scientific program, faculty announcements, and practical information as they become available on the official congress website.
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SONO FOR AFRICA
EFSUMB endorsed ultrasound courses in East Africa
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By Foundation SmW Switzerland – SONO FOR AFRICA
at Meru Teaching & Referral Hospital, Kenya
In cooperation with Meru University of Science & Technology (MUST) and
Kenya Methodist University Meru (KeMU)
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Many developing countries have made significant progress in the social, education, and health sectors in recent decades, as measured by life expectancy, illiteracy, and fetal and maternal mortality. Following the pandemic and recent geopolitical changes, these advances are under threat due to cuts in donor countries' development budgets. This makes NGO support all the more important.
Foundation SmW – SONO FOR AFRICA – is supporting doctors, sonographers and midwives in the education of sonography. More than 60 courses with over 2000 training places in obstetrical, abdominal and emergency sonography were organized. Since 2022 Foundation SmW which is a very small private Swiss institution offers in cooperation with two universities at Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital (MeTRH) in Kenya courses in sonography. Every year 50-60 medical doctors and midwives from all aereas of the country are visiting a particularly adapted course with exam in obstetrical ultrasound. Meru is vibrant town four to five hours northeast of Nairobi with two Universities, a Polytechnic and a Teachers College.
Prof. Japhet Magambo, former rector of the Meru University of Science and Technology, the overall collaboration coordinator of the courses and liaison in Meru, Kenya, describes the impact as follows:
- The Foundation SmW – SONO FOR AFRICA, has been instrumental in driving this initiative.
- These courses have positively transformed our local healthcare environment. The training has improved the diagnostic capabilities of our healthcare system at MeTRH, across Meru County and Kenya at large.
- The “EFSUMB ENDORSED” status adds a critical layer of credibility and quality assurance, confirming that our training aligns with international standards while integrating global best practices with our local context. It reassures all stakeholders, healthcare professionals, patients, and policy makers alike, that the benefits of modern ultrasound technology are both accessible and appropriately tailored to our specific healthcare needs.
In conclusion
- These courses represent a transformative investment in healthcare excellence that extends far beyond the classroom. They elevate clinical standards, expand access to high-quality diagnostic services, and contribute significantly to improved maternal outcomes in Meru and beyond. Through this collaboration, we are setting new benchmarks in maternal health, and our joint efforts are ensuring that both individual healthcare professionals and the wider medical education system continue to evolve in tandem with global advancements and requirements.
The Foundation SmW, together with the involved partners in Africa, welcomes every financial donation. Thank you very much!
Dr. Walter Gysel, President SmW
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Latest Journal Club Entries
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Role of elastography and dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the evaluation of pancreas transplantation rejection |
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Short-Review by:
Prof. Dr. Zeno Sparchez
Department of Ultrasound
Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Cluj Napoca, Romania
Strengths:
a) Utilization of non-invasive, radiation-free, and repeatable ultrasound-based methods. b) A powerful, multi-parametric approach combining two different functional imaging techniques (elastography and DCE-US). c) The creation of a strong combined predictive score (23.2-fold probability of rejection) for identifying at-risk grafts. d) addressing an urgent clinical need for better tools to guide biopsies and improve graft survival rates.
Weaknesses: The small, single-center sample size limits the generalizability of the findings. The techniques were unreliable during the critical early period (first 90 days) after transplantation. Results are highly dependent on the skill of the ultrasound operator (operator-dependent variability). The findings are complementary and cannot replace the gold-standard diagnostic biopsy for confirmation.
Personally thinking:
The study's main strength lies in exploring the combined use of two distinct functional imaging techniques elastography (assessing tissue stiffness) and DCS-US (assessing microvascular perfusion). The strong predictive value of the combined score after the initial 90-day post-transplant period may help in selecting patients who truly need an invasive biopsy for confirmation, potentially reducing the number of unnecessary invasive procedures.
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Arterial-Washout Temporal Profiling in CEUS LI-RADS: A Diagnostic Algorithm for Reducing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Misclassification
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Short-Review by:
Prof. Dr. Zeno Sparchez
Department of Ultrasound
Institute for Gastroenterology and Hepatology
University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Cluj Napoca, Romania
Strengths:
a) Integrating the AWTI: Measuring the interval between the start of the arterial phase and the start of washout accounts for individual variations in contrast circulation and retention times, providing a more precise temporal assessment. b) Using a stricter threshold for LR-M: By requiring washout to occur even earlier (less than 45 seconds) and with a short AWTI (less than 21 seconds) for the LR-M category, the algorithm more accurately identifies non-HCC malignancies (e.g., intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas or metastases) which tend to wash out very quickly c) Improving sensitivity for LR-5: Conversely, using a longer washout time (≥ 45 seconds) in combination with a longer AWTI (≥ 21 seconds) for LR-5 categorization increases the sensitivity for true HCCs, many of which have a more prolonged contrast retention compared to other malignancies.
Weaknesses: a) Strict anclusion criteria and imbalanced cohort: Many FLL cases were excluded due to strict criteria, leading to a final cohort that was predominantly HCC cases. This imbalance may limit how broadly the study's findings can be applied to other populations or lesion types . b) Small sample sizes and selection Bias: The limited number of non-HCC malignancies and atypical benign FLLs in the study group may have introduced selection bias and reduced statistical power for those specific subgroups . c) Lack of interobserver agreement Assessment: The researchers did not perform an assessment of how consistent different observers were when determining "wash-in" and "washout" onset times and AWTI (Arterial Wash-In Time Index). d) No External Validation
Personally thinking:
The study provides preliminary, but limited, evidence regarding the characteristics of nodules in cirrhotic livers. The authors were responsible in acknowledging significant methodological flaws, particularly the lack of external validation and potential for observer bias. The results should be treated with caution until replicated in larger, multi-center studies with standardized timing assessments.
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Dreiländertreffen Ultraschall 2025
Davos, 29 - 31 October 2025
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We are excited to share highlights from the Dreiländertreffen Ultraschall 2025, the premier ultrasound medicine congress in the D–A–CH region, held from 29–31 October 2025 at the Kongresszentrum Davos. This three-day event brought together clinicians, researchers, and practitioners from Switzerland, Germany, and Austria for an inspiring programme of innovation, education and professional exchange — featuring hundreds of seminars, workshops, scientific sessions, and hands-on learning opportunities. Whether attending in person amid the stunning Alpine backdrop or joining virtually, participants experienced cutting-edge developments in diagnostic and interventional sonography across a wide range of specialties.
- 1,636 participants, 256 speakers, 44 tutors in the Sonocave
- 36 User Seminars, 73 Refresher courses, 12 hands-on workshops
- 41 scientific presentations in 4 scientific sessions
- 68 posters in 5 poster sessions
- 29 exhibiting companies
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We are delighted to confirm that the following Guidelines have been released to the final, peer-reviewing stage:
These Guidelines will available on the EFSUMB web site as Open Access shortly. Congratulations to all authors for these latest released papers.
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2nd Euroson School of Abdominal Ultrasound
Zagreb, Croatia 18 - 19 December 2025 |
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Ivica Grgurevic and Boris Brkljacic have organised this second meeting in Croatia with 110 attendees from 10 European countries. The organisers supporting this School were thanked which included WFUMBs Centre of Education and EFSUMB. Jasenka Duvnjak and Lynne Rudd were thanked for their support.
Ioan Sporea remarked how pleasing it is to see so many young doctors attending. Boris Brkljacic recommended ultrasound to the attendees as a safe modality and remarked that of the 400,000 CTs taking place around the world (over 100,000 in the USA alone) 30% are inappropriate.
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The course covered Basic Principles, Ultrasound pathology of abdominal organs, Elastography and Liver Steatosis Quantification, CEUS and MPUS from an impressive faculty of 27 lecturers, half of which are from outside Croatia. The EFSUMB President Vito Cantisani was present to talk about MPUS of the kidneys. |
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Hands on sessions were possible with the support of ultrasound sponsors - Canon, Siemens, Fujifilm, Philips and Mindray. EKSA, Medial, Arbor, Medicom and Olympus also kindly supported this event. Despite the approach of Christmas or perhaps because of the attraction of Zagreb's Advent markets this course will be followed by the European Conference of Young Gastroenterologists. |
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EFSUMB Statistical Reports
July - November 2025
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The latest EFSUMB quarterly web statistics for the period 02 July 2025 to 02 November 2025 show continued strong engagement with the federation’s online content. The Home Page recorded 859,848 total views averaging 214,962 per month, a ~6.4 % increase over the previous period, indicating growing interest in general EFSUMB resources. Key sections like Webinar Archive and Course Book Chapters maintained high visibility, with average monthly views reaching almost 110,000 and 90,000 respectively, while the Guidelines & Recommendations section also saw notable traffic, reflecting users’ demand for clinical guidance.
There were consistent increases across most content areas compared with the prior reporting period, with sections such as
Euroson Schools and social/mobile engagement metrics showing positive trends. Membership and mailing list statistics also highlighted growth, including 15,791 active members and 28,107 email subscribers, with high newsletter open rates (~78.6 %). Geographic reach remained global, with visits from over 20 countries, underscoring EFSUMB’s international online footprint. |
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UPCOMING ENDORSED COURSES
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RECENT WEBINARS RECORDINGS
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Webinar recordings are available for the following events.
Click on the banners to view > |
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Missed a webinar event?
View our Webinar archive for links to all of the webinar presentations from recent events.
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EFSUMB FUTURE CONGRESS NEWS
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