The SIOP Europe Imaging Working Group (IWG) was launched two years ago with the primary objective of enhancing diagnostic imaging and image-guided therapies in paediatric oncology. This encompasses both routine patient care and clinical trials and other research initiatives, including the introduction of new innovative imaging techniques and quality control issues relevant to the imaging community.
This year, during the SIOP Europe Annual Meeting in Milan, we organized a well-attended open session on Wednesday, May 15, entitled "New developments in paediatric oncological imaging and image-guided interventions". This was a joint session organized in collaboration with the EANM Pediatric Committee and included presentations on the current status and future developments in Nuclear Medicine imaging and therapies (theranostics), Whole-Body MRI, and Oncological Interventional Radiology. In addition, a business meeting was organized together with the Host Genome Working Group, to discuss the challenges and opportunities of surveillance imaging in cancer predisposition syndromes (CPS). Following this meeting, a joint task force with representatives from both working groups was established with the primary goal of developing international guidelines for imaging in CPS.
On October 7, the IWG steering committee organized an online open meeting for all members, as well as the (Vice) Chairs of the Radiology/Nuclear medicine subcommittees of the different SIOP Europe CTGs. This open meeting was an opportunity to discuss the topics that the IWG steering committee has been working on over the last year, and to learn from what the CTGs are currently working on, including the challenges they are facing, in order to foster further collaboration with the IWG. During this meeting, an update was given on the imaging repository project for future SIOP Europe studies, which has entered its final phase for approval by the SIOP Europe Board.
Last but not least, we are still looking for enthusiastic and committed colleagues from all over Europe, both health professionals involved in imaging, and professionals from other disciplines involved in diagnostic imaging and image-guided interventions and therapies in children with cancer, to join the Imaging Working Group! Detailed information and the application form can be found here.