DR. KANAL'S
"MR Contrast agent safety and efficacy options in the US Today:
A Comprehensive seminar covering all our imaging options"

General Course Description

This course is specifically designed with the magnetic resonance technologist in mind. With the FDA approval of numerous new MR contrast agents over the past few years, the options - and complexity - of MR contrast agent administration and imaging sequence considerations have drastically expanded. With so much information - and misinformation - regarding the usage of MR contrast agents in MR imaging, angiographic, and perfusion studies today, this course is meant to serve as a one-stop-shop to understanding MR contrast agent usage today. Although it will focus on the agents utilized predominantly for neuroradiologic MR imaging as well as MR angiography and perfusion MR, general MR contrast agent concepts will be covered that apply to all FDA-approved MR contrast agents available today. By the end of this one day concentrated course on MR contrast agents and how to clinically apply them, the attendees will have a new understanding and respect for not only these contrast agents, their similarities, and their differences, but will appreciate how to adjust the MR imaging and angiographic sequences modifying TR, TE, and flip angle imaging parameters in such a way as to create images optimized for the specific agent being utilized and disease entities being studied.

Attendees of these meetings would be able to:

1. Understand the basis for contrast enhancement when utilizing gadolinium-based contrast agents; special emphasis will be made throughout the course to focus on the agents approved for neuroradiologic and/or MR angiographic application.
2. Differentiate between agents of different relaxivity and understand how these
   differences would impact ideal MR imaging and angiographic parameter settings.
3. Anticipate, control, and optimize image contrast with various spin echo and
   gradient echo MR imaging sequences by varying TR, TE, and excitation flip angles.
4. Recognize the most common adverse events associated with the most commonly utilized MR contrast agents and compare their frequencies among the various agents available in the US today.
5. Understand the most current thinking as to the theories and associations between GBCA and NSF development in renal disease patients. Assess relative risks of NSF development in higher risk populations among the various FDA-approved GBCA based on best available data to date.
   
   Accreditation
   Each MRI program has been submitted for 6 hours o f category A CE
   technologist credit. To receive the maximum amount of credit hours, you must attend
   all the sessions. Verification of attendance policies will be in place for each lecture.
   

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MR Registry Review

General Course Description

MRI is a complex modality taking advantage of the magnetic properties of hydrogen, which is abundant in human tissues. This course is designed as an intensive and comprehensive review for those technologists preparing for the ARRT advanced certification exam in MRI. The content is selected to mirror a large portion of the ARRT published exam specifications (with the exception of clinical requirements and anatomy). Additionally, this program is designed for the radiologic technologist who is beginning to work in MRI or has been working in MRI but has never had any formal education in the basic principles of MRI.
In general terms, following this course, the technologist should be able to:

• Understand the basic principles behind the production of an MR signal from hydrogen
  Define T1 relaxation, T2 relaxation and Proton Density
• Understand how those intrinsic properties of tissues effect image contrast and how to control the MR image contrast using the available sequence parameters
• Understand the basic differences between the major MR pulse sequences and know the main clinical utilities of each
• Understand the basic concepts of MR data acquisition (image formation)
• Understand the basic concepts of fast imaging / acquisition techniques
• Recognize various MR artifacts, understand their cause and methods for managing such artifacts
• Understand how sequence parameters effect the various components of MR image quality and know how to manipulate these sequence parameters to optimize MR image quality for various clinical situations
• Explain the major differences between the commonly used techniques for acquiring MR Angiography exams
• Understand how MR is used to assess diffusion and perfusion abnormalities in the brain
  

Accreditation -  ARRT
This program has been approved for 24.0 hours of Category A CE credit (evidence of continuing education) by the Section for Magnetic Resonance Technologists (SMRT). The Registry Review session (Sept. 9 - 11) will offer up to 20.5 credit hours. The Assessment Quiz & Review session (Sept. 11) will offer up to 3.5 credit hours. In order to obtain the maximum credit hours offered (24.0) you must attend ALL presentations on all three days. Guidelines approved by the SMRT verifying attendance for each lecture will be followed and a certificate of attendance will be issued to each qualified attendee by Northwest Imaging Forums, Inc. and mailed after the course.

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Essentials of CT

General Course Description

The Sunday CT program topics will include:
1. To understand the differences between scanner geometry
2. To learn about the various methods of acquiring CT data
3. To learn how CT image data is reconstructed
4. To understand how CT parameters affect image quality
5. To learn the cause and appearance of common CT artifacts
6. To learn about patient care issues related to CT scanning
7. To learn how CT is currently utilized in clinical practice
8. To review sectional anatomy covering major areas of the head and body

Accreditation
The CT program has been approved for 8 hours of category A CE technologist
credit. To receive the maximum amount of credit hours, you must attend all the
sessions. Verification of attendance policies will be in place for each lecture.

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Syllabus for Essentials of CT

Meet the
Masters Symposium

The Impact of Oral Care on Aspiration Pneumonia:
A Prevention Model

Wednesday November 17th, 2010
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Room 201A
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

General Course Description

The contribution of dysphagia to the development of aspiration pneumonia is well established. We now know that other patient/host risk factors, iatrogenic factors, and underlying disease can raise aspiration pneumonia risk. Pathogens in the oral cavity are recognized as independent contributors to this risk in dysphagic patients and oral hygiene is a recommended, but poorly delivered, preventive intervention. This seminar will focus on the pathogenesis of aspiration pneumonia in dysphagic patients, oral health and its contribution to systemic disease and pneumonia, and the delivery of effective oral care that may mitigate aspiration pneumonia risk in dysphagic adults.

Accreditation
An annual ASHA CE Registry fee is required to register ASHA CEU’s. CE Registry fees are paid by the participant directly to the ASHA National Office. The annual CE Registry fee allows registration of an unlimited number of ASHA CEU’s for the calendar year. Contact the ASHA CE Division 800-498-2071 for CE fee subscription information. ASHA staff are available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST to assist you.

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Optimizing
MR Imaging Protocols for Technologists

General Course Description

Optimizing MR Imaging Protocols : A 24.5 hour program that presents in depth technical and clinical information on how one can develop and/or improve existing imaging protocols that are used for performing diagnostic CNS, 3T, body and angiographic exams (see program format) at all magnetic field strengths. NOTE - a special 4 hour session will be given on Pediatric MR. All presentations will offer ideas and concepts that will address the ultimate goal of high image quality and patient throughput.

Breast CAD Workshops : Invivo will present TWO special 4 hour hands on interactive sessions demonstrating Breast Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) instrumentation. NOTE - each Workshop will be given concurrently with the General Session and will cover basic operational principles as well as advanced applications and case studies. NOTE : each Workshop will be available to the first 20 attendees who sign up (first come, first serve).

Accreditation
The MRI program has been submitted for approval for 24.5 hours of category A CE technologist credit. To receive the maximum amount of credit hours, you must attend all the sessions. Verification of attendance policies will be in place for each lecture.

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