Dear AuntMinnieEurope Member,
The quality of physical examinations has declined due to the availability of advanced diagnostic equipment, defensive medical practices that rely more on technology-based diagnosis, and insufficient emphasis on physical exams in medical curricula, among others.
That’s the view of a respected group of Dutch authors, who are convinced that omitting physical exams before ultrasound scans does not affect diagnostic outcomes. They believe the diagnostic value of physical exams tends to be overestimated and the overall quality of the physical exam by referring physicians does not reach the expected standard.
It’s been a difficult past week or so for the medical imaging community in Rome. A preliminary hearing in the manslaughter trial of three radiologists and one cardiologist took place on 19 September, and it has broadened liability to two clinics and an insurance company.
Also, news has been sinking in about the death of Prof. Plinio Rossi, the famous interventional radiologist who was a full professor and director of radiology at the Sapienza University of Rome. You can read more about his career highlights in our tribute article.
Sustainability was the central theme of ECR 2025. A CT study on this topic has caught the attention of our editorial team. An Australian team reported that the simple measure of switching off CT scanners that are not clinically required can lead to considerable savings in terms of power, associated carbon, and costs.
Let’s be honest: online training courses can be tedious, but they’re becoming increasingly important. Radiologist Dr. Chris Hammond has some practical advice on how to get more out of e-learning.
Philip Ward
Editor in Chief
