Prof. Christof M. Sommer

First author, “Imaging of the lymphatic system: Patent Blue V lymphangiography, Lipiodol based lymphangiography and MR lymphangiography in an in vivo model.”

Why did you choose ET to submit your educational abstract?

Sommer: ET has become an established congress with worldwide visibility. As a subspecialty conference within the CIRSE family, it offers high-quality education for all participants, including collaborating disciplines such as surgery and industry partners. Of course, ET 2022 in Nice was a real highlight, because after the long COVID pandemic restrictions we finally were able to get the opportunity for an intensive exchange of experiences in person. The online offerings available now can and should be complementary solutions, but they will never replace a congress with a personal presence on site.

Are there any special considerations to take into account when submitting this type of abstract?

Everything depends on the roots, i.e., where you come from, what you were given on your professional path, the philosophy, the mission statement, the self-image of your alma mater and mentors and supporters. Very early on, I was taught the tremendous importance of teamwork and interdisciplinary collaborations, because only when you pull together do you achieve your goal in the best possible way. Submitting an educational abstract means something special to me, namely, passing on knowledge that was originally imparted to you by a third party, but that you can now further develop and shape after years of personal clinical experience for the benefit of others who may be interested in the topic.

How did you find the submission process?

Efficient as always. The upload page is very clear and standardised … The nerves then come with the news from the Scientific Committee whether the abstract has been accepted, and if so, in what form … Emotionally, the oral presentations on stage remain the most exciting for me, but the importance of EPOS cannot be overstated!

Do you have any tips for physicians considering submitting an abstract?

Intrinsic motivation is key, I can tell fellows and residents. One should focus on one or two topics and think them through completely. When submitting a congress paper, it is very helpful to already have a working version of the intended journal paper, e.g., with formatting for CVIR, CVIR Endovascular or RoFo … In any case, a last-minute data evaluation with submission just before midnight is not useful – neither for the authors nor for the reviewers nor the audience.

Will you submit an abstract for ET 2023 as well?

That’s pretty sure!!! Embolotherapy is a huge field, imagine what we can do in terms of augmented reality, robotics or image fusion.  Current health policy developments like “outpatientisation” offer both opportunities and challenges for our discipline with its well tolerated and highly effective procedures. Only as a clinic (and not a department) with direct patient responsibility and coding authority on our own wards will we as radiologists and interventional radiologists be able to compete in the future hospital environment.

More traditional procedures also remain a hot topic – we urgently need more data on the actual cure rate of TACE in HCC patients, for example, by histopathological correlation or real long-term follow-up … One project that is particularly close to my heart is IR in babies, infants, and adolescents! The initiative grew out of the paediatric liver transplantation programme at Heidelberg University Hospital and has been expanded with the intention to report on this huge wealth of experience.

Currently, we are preparing a pictoral review with renowned colleagues from all over Europe. From the strategic point of view, the systematic implementation of interventional neuroradiology, e.g., the endovascular treatment of aneurysms and vascular malformations, will be relevant. At this point I would like to thank Prof. Dimitris Fillipiadis and Prof. Antonin Krajina, and the CIRSE team for the great support within the Online Education Committee. So you see, ET 2023 should be exciting for everyone.