Workshop Date
December 10 - 11, 2026
Workshop Venue
Lumen Hotel Lisbon
Rua Sousa Martins, 20
1050-217 Lisboa, Portugal
Workshop Language
The workshop will be held in English.
Prof. Luis Curvo-Semedo
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário
Coimbra, Portugal
Dr. Max Lahaye
The Netherlands Cancer Institute
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Prof. Vincent Vandecaveye
University Hospital Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Workshop Faculty
E. Dresen, Leuven/BE
N. Kok, Amsterdam/NL
M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL
D. Lambregts, Amsterdam/NL
S. Nougaret, Montpellier/FR
V. Vandecaveye, Leuven/BE
Description
MRI has revolutionised the detection and staging of peritoneal metastases and is now established as the imaging standard for assessing disease extent. It enables radiologists to play a central role in patient selection and surgical planning. This advanced ESGAR MRI workshop reflects this evolution through a new case-based format, in which participants will be trained in staging peritoneal disease and mastering the interpretation of peritoneal metastases on MRI. The course offers hands-on training with guidance from a multidisciplinary expert faculty.
The programme also includes a half-day workshop on advanced rectal cancer imaging, serving as a valuable add-on to the ESGAR Rectal Cancer MRI Workshop on staging and restaging. Participants will learn to review and report MRI cases of recurrent and advanced rectal cancer in the setting of pelvic exenteration, in line with ESGAR-led guidelines on pelvic exenteration imaging published in 2025.
This combined format offers the chance to review ± 20 real-life cases of advanced and recurrent rectal cancer, and 40 cases of peritoneal metastases, all with direct hands-on feedback from an international faculty of experts. The workshop also features lectures with practical practical guidance on MRI acquisition, interpretation, and structured reporting, as well as interactive multidisciplinary case discussions with expert surgeons.
This new case-based workshop is now offered for the first time as a focused hands-on training program in Lisbon, Portugal. Case review will be conducted using the dedicated ESGAR case viewing platform, with participants receiving complimentary access to cases and study materials for two weeks after the course.
Target group
Senior residents, general radiologists, abdominal radiologists, or clinicians interested in abdominal and/or oncological imaging. At least some previous experience reading abdominal MRIs is recommended.
Learning objectives
- Understand the role of MRI, in relation to other imaging modalities, in peritoneal metastases and its impact on treatment planning
- Learn how MRI can guide surgical planning prior to pelvic exenteration in advanced or recurrent rectal cancer
- Recognise key pearls and pitfalls in MR image interpretation
- Become familiar with current guidelines and structured reporting templates
Day 1 - Thursday, December 10, 2026
| 08:30 | Registration | |
| 09:00 | Welcome and introduction | L. Curvo-Semedo, Coimbra/PT D. Lambregts, Amsterdam/NL |
| 09:15 | Advanced pelvic imaging – beyond TME - Imaging in pelvic exenteration – key concepts - How I do it - challenging cases from my workstation - Individual case reading (learning by doing) | D. Lambregts, Amsterdam/NL S. Nougaret, Montpellier/FR |
| 11:00 | Coffee break | |
| 11:30 | How to approach pelvic recurrence - How I do it - Imaging strategies in recurrent disease - Individual case reading (learning by doing) | E. Dresen, Leuven/BE Full faculty |
| 12:30 | Lunch break | |
| 13:30 | Introduction to peritoneal metastases - Peritoneal metastases – anatomy & patterns of disease - An introduction to MRI – protocol and interpretation strategy - Individual case reading (learning by doing) | V. Vandecaveye, Leuven/BE M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL Full faculty |
| 15:00 | Coffee break | |
| 15:30 | Staging peritoneal disease - First assessment with CT – how I do it! - Pearls and pitfalls of MRI - Individual case reading (learning by doing) | E. Dresen, Leuven/BE V. Vandecaveye, Leuven/BE Full faculty |
| 17:00 | Adjourn | |
Day 2 – Friday, December 11, 2026 | ||
| 09:00 | How to write a clinically meaningful report - A surgeon’s perspective – why imaging matters - How to write a good report - Individual case reading (learning by doing) | N. Kok, Amsterdam/NL S. Nougaret, Montpellier/FR Full faculty |
| 10:30 | Coffee break | |
| 11:00 | Extra-peritoneal findings - Value of MRI for extraperitoneal findings - Individual case reading (learning by doing) | M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL Full faculty |
| 12:30 | Lunch break | |
| 13:30 | Interactive case discussion 1 Moderator: V. Vandecaveye, Leuven/BE | Full faculty |
| 14:30 | Coffee break | |
| 15:00 | Interactive case discussion 2 Moderator: E. Dresen, Leuven/BE - Individual case reading (learning by doing) | Full faculty |
| 16:30 | Clinical impact and future perspectives - An update of recent and future clinical trials | M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL |
| 17:00 | Adjourn and closing remarks | M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL |
Registration
Registration Fees
| Radiologists | ||
| ESGAR Member | € 1,690.00 | |
| Non-Member | € 2,090.00 |
Register here
Registration fee includes
- access to lectures
- a personal login to the case reading webplatform which gives access to 100 MRI scans of real-life clinical rectal cancer cases for one extra week after completion of the onsite workshop
- hands-on training on workstation
- coffee breaks
- lunches
- certificate of attendance
Buddy registration:
Each full time radiologist can bring one colleague from his/her institute and evaluate the cases together sharing one workstation. The combined registration is at a reduced fee. Please contact the ESGAR office via email office(at)esgar.org
The number of participants per workshop is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
Cancellation policy
ESGAR offers the possibility of ensuring the registration with our partner “Europäische Reiseversicherung”. Thus, ESGAR will not refund any amount after a cancellation of registration itself. All requests have to be issued to the “Europäische Reiseversicherung” directly. Refunds will be given within the terms and conditions of the “Europäische Reiseversicherung”. All cancellations have to be made in writing (e-mail, fax or letter) to the Central ESGAR Office and confirmed.
CME Accreditation
An application has been made to the UEMS/EBR for CME/CPD accreditation of this event.
Accommodation
We recommend staying at the workshop venue: The Lumen Hotel Lisbon. Please book early in order to ensure availability.
City Information
Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, located on the western coast of the Iberian Peninsula along the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of around 550,000 in the city (and over 2.8 million in the metropolitan area), it is known for its historic neighborhoods, vibrant culture, and scenic viewpoints.
Language: Portuguese
Time Zone: UTC+0 (Winter), UTC+1 (Summer)
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Electricity: 230V, 50Hz AC
Country Dialing Code: +351
Closest Airport: Humberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon Airport)
How to reach the venue from Lisbon Airport:
- Taxi / Ride-hailing: The easiest option. Taxis, Uber, and Bolt are available at the airport; the journey to the hotel takes approximately 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Metro: Take the Red Line (Linha Vermelha) from the airport towards São Sebastião, then change at Saldanha (or Alameda) to reach a station within walking distance of the hotel. Total travel time is approximately 25–30 minutes.
- Bus: Several city bus lines connect the airport to central Lisbon; from there, the hotel is a short taxi or walking distance depending on the stop.