Diagnostic and interventional breast ultrasounds have become the cornerstone for the work-up of breast lesions. Mammography remains the Gold Standard for screening. Magnetic Resonance is promising in the characterization of breast lesions. However, the final answer remains tissue diagnosis.

Radiologists are always facing the following issues:

• Screening in high risk patients: The role of MR, ultrasound and mammography.
• Lobular Carcinoma: the best imaging modality for its diagnosis.
• Missed breast cancer at screening: causes: MR as a problem-solving tool.
• Invasive vs in situ carcinoma.
• Imaging and pathological issues.

Since 1990, we have started addressing these issues through a series of MEDICA seminars: 1990 with Dr.Kopans in Montreal, 1996 IBUS seminar at Château Vaudreuil, 1998 in Québec City, 2000 at the Ritz Carlton in Montreal, 2002 at Château Bromont in the Eastern Townships, 2004 at Château Vaudreuil, and 2006 at the Ritz Carlton Montreal.

This year, we have again gathered a multidisciplinary team of specialists including radiologists from McGill University, the University of Ottawa, the University of California Medical Center, the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Boston (Harvard Medical School) along with a pathologist from Cornell University.

The Breast faculty will include Dr. Donald Eddé, Dr. Hope E. Peters, Dr. E. Sickles, Dr. Madeline Vazquez.

During this seminar, three additional topics will be covered: Breast Surgical Oncology, Thyroid Imaging Intervention and Pathology, and MR Imaging.

We are also very pleased to advise that we will have a full magnetic resonance diagnostic day covering brain tumour imaging, CNS infectious disease, spinal pathology, bone pathology and GI pathology including liver, biliary, pancreas and anorectal pathology.

The MR faculty include Dr. Maria Cortes, Dr. Thomas Mammen, Dr. Koenraad Mortele, from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Boston (Harvard Medical School), Dr. Michel Azouz, from University of Ottawa, and from McGill University, Dr. Viviane Khoury and Dr.Donatella Tampieri.

This seminar will be hosted downtown Montreal during the beautiful month of September.