Workshop Date
December 9 - 10, 2025 & December 11 - 12, 2025
Workshop Venue
Martins's Klooster
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwstraat 18
B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
Workshop Language
The workshop will be held in English.
Workshop Faculty
G. Beets, Amsterdam/NL
R.G.H. Beets-Tan, Amsterdam/NL
N. Bogveradze, Vienna/AT
L. Curvo-Semedo, Coimbra/PT
A. D'Hoore, Leuven, BE
E. Dresen, Leuven/BE
K. Haustermans, Leuven/BE
M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL
D. Lambregts, Amsterdam/NL
M. Maas, Amsterdam/NL
S. Nougaret, Montpellier/FR
J. van Griethuysen, Amsterdam/NL
Description
MRI is the main diagnostic tool used for the primary staging and treatment stratification of rectal cancer, and also plays a key role in assessing response after neoadjuvant treatment to help select potential candidates for organ-preserving treatments.
In this case-based workshop, participants are offered the chance to review more than 100 MRI scans of real-life clinical rectal cancer cases with hands-on feedback from an international faculty of experts. Participants are offered a variety of lectures which include practical tips on how to perform and report MRI for primary staging and restaging, a multidisciplinary perspective from our expert surgeon and radiation oncologist, a future outlook on the role of AI in rectal cancer imaging, and live MDT discussions.
The is a two-day hands-on workshop (‘focused training’), organized onsite in Leuven, Belgium.
Target group
Senior residents, general radiologists or abdominal radiologists with an interest in abdominal and/or oncologic imaging. At least some previous experience in reading rectal MRI is recommended.
Learning objectives
- To understand the role of rectal MRI and its impact on treatment planning
- To know how to write a good quality staging and restaging report
- To learn the main pearls and pitfalls of MR image interpretation
- To understand the benefit of modern techniques such as functional imaging and AI
- To know the role and limitations of rectal MRI in the era of organ preservation
Day 1 - Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (1. Date)
Primary staging and treatment planning
| 08:30 | Registration | |
| 09:00 | Welcome and introduction | R.G.H. Beets-Tan, Amsterdam/NL |
| 09:10 | Opening lectures - Introduction of course outline & iScore platform (10 min) - Optimizing the MRI protocol (10 min) - Imaging based pelvic anatomy (20 min) - Discussion and Q&A (10 min) | D. Lambregts, Amsterdam/NL E. Dresen, Leuven/BE N. Bogveradze, Vienna/AT |
| 10:00 | Radiology in rectal cancer throughout the years - The radiologist as key member in the MDT (20 min) - Plenary case discussion in iScore (10 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | R. Beets-Tan, Amsterdam/NL M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL Full faculty |
| 11:00 | Coffee break | |
| 11:30 | Cased-based practice: Primary staging of early and intermediate rectal tumors - The challenge of identifying early disease (40 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL, L. Curvo-Semedo, Coimbra/PT Full faculty |
| 13:00 | Lunch break | |
| 14:00 | Primary staging of advanced rectal tumors - Radiation oncology: what the radiologist needs to know (20 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | K. Haustermans, Leuven/BE Full faculty |
| 15:30 | Coffee break | |
| 16:00 | Cased-based practice: Primary staging of advanced rectal tumors - The ugly cases – lessons from the clinical floor (40 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | D. Lambregts, Amsterdam/NL, E. Dresen, Leuven/BE Full faculty |
| 17:00 | Adjourn | |
Day 2 – Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (1. Date)Restaging and organ-preservation | ||
| 09:00 | Case-based practice: Restaging after neoadjuvant treatment - Why do I need restaging – the surgeon’s view (20 min) - Complete or no complete response: that’s the question! (40 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | A. D’Hoore, Leuven/BE M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL, L. Curvo-Semedo, Coimbra/PT Full faculty (Elleke, Monique, Luis, Max) |
| 10:30 | Coffee break | |
| 11:00 | Case-based practice: Restaging after neoadjuvant treatment and during follow-up - Imaging before and after (extensive) surgery and organ preservation (40 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | M. Maas, Amsterdam/NL, S. Nougaret, Montpellier/FR Full faculty (Monique, Regina, Nino) |
| 12:30 | Lunch break | |
| 13:30 | Last case run! - Individual case reading – learning by doing | Full faculty (Elleke, Doenja, Nino,) |
| 14:30 | Coffee break | |
| 15:00 | Multidisciplinary International Tumour Board Moderator: E. Dresen, Leuven/BE Radiologists: N. Bogveradze, Vienna/AT, R. Beets-Tan, Amsterdam/NL Radiation Oncologist: K. Haustermans, Leuven/BE Surgeon: A. D’Hoore, Leuven/BE | |
| 15:45 | “A look into the future” - AI in rectal cancer: current role & future perspectives - The future of radiology in oncology |
|
| 16:30 | Closing remarks and adjourn | E. Dresen, Leuven/BE |
Day 1 - Thursday, December 11, 2025 (2. Date)
Primary staging and treatment planning
| 08:30 | Registration | |
| 09:00 | Welcome and introduction | R.G.H. Beets-Tan, Amsterdam/NL, E. Dresen, Leuven/BE |
| 09:10 | Opening lectures - Introduction of course outline & iScore platform (10 min) - Optimizing the MRI protocol (10 min) - Imaging based pelvic anatomy (20 min) - Discussion and Q&A (10 min) | D. Lambregts, Amsterdam/NL E. Dresen, Leuven/BE N. Bogveradze, Vienna/AT |
| 10:00 | Radiology in rectal cancer throughout the years - The radiologist as key member in the MDT (20 min) - Plenary case discussion in iScore (10 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | R. Beets-Tan, Amsterdam/NL E. Dresen, Leuven/BE Full faculty |
| 11:00 | Coffee break | |
| 11:30 | Cased-based practice: Primary staging of early and intermediate rectal tumors - The challenge of identifying early disease (40 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL, L. Curvo-Semedo, Coimbra/PT Full faculty |
| 13:00 | Lunch break | |
| 14:00 | Primary staging of advanced rectal tumors - Radiation oncology: what the radiologist needs to know (20 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | K. Haustermans, Leuven/BE Full faculty |
| 15:30 | Coffee break | |
| 16:00 | Cased-based practice: Primary staging of advanced rectal tumors - The ugly cases – lessons from the clinical floor (40 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | D. Lambregts, Amsterdam/NL, E. Dresen, Leuven/BE Full faculty |
| 17:00 | Adjourn | |
Day 2 - Friday, December 12, 2025 (2. Date)Restaging and organ-preservation | ||
| 09:00 | Case-based practice: Restaging after neoadjuvant treatment - Why do I need restaging – the surgeon’s view (20 min) - Complete or no complete response: that’s the question! (40 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | A. D’Hoore, Leuven/BE M. Lahaye, Amsterdam/NL, L. Curvo-Semedo, Coimbra/PT Full faculty (Elleke, Monique, Luis, Max) |
| 10:30 | Coffee break | |
| 11:00 | Case-based practice: Restaging after neoadjuvant treatment and during follow-up - Imaging before and after (extensive) surgery and organ preservation (40 min) - Individual case reading – learning by doing | M. Maas, Amsterdam/NL, S. Nougaret, Montpellier/FR Full faculty (Monique, Regina, Nino) |
| 12:30 | Lunch break | |
| 13:30 | Last case run! - Individual case reading – learning by doing | Full faculty |
| 14:30 | Coffee break | |
| 15:00 | Multidisciplinary International Tumour Board Moderator: E. Dresen, Leuven/BE Radiologists: R. Beets-Tan, M. Lahaye, N. Bogveradze Radiation Oncologist: K. Haustermans, Leuven/BE Surgeon: A. D’Hoore, Leuven/BE | |
| 16:00 | “A look into the future” - AI in rectal cancer: current role & future perspectives - The future of radiology in oncology |
|
| 16:45 | Closing remarks and adjourn | E. Dresen, Leuven/BE |
Registration
Registration Fees
| Radiologists | |
| ESGAR Member ESGAR Member + Buddy | € 1,650.00 € 2,400.00 |
| Non Member Non ESGAR Member + Buddy | € 1,990.00 € 2,940.00 |
Registration fee includes
- access to lectures
- a personal login to the iScore 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 see above).
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 will be made to the EACCME for CME accreditation of this event. The EACCME is an institution of the UEMS (www.uems.eu).
Accommodation
The following hotels which are located near by the workshop's venue can be proposed to the participants:
1. Begijnhof Hotel
2. Cube Boutique Hotel
3. Hotel La Royale
Please book early in order to ensure availability.
City Information
Leuven is a city in Belgium, located in the Flemish part of the country. With a population of about 100,000, it is known for its vibrant student scene, thanks to KU Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe.
- Language: Dutch (Flemish)
- Time Zone: UTC+1 (Winter), UTC+2 (Summer)
- Currency: Euro (EUR)
- Electricity: 230V, 50Hz AC
- Country Dialing Code: +32
- Closest Airport: Brussels Airport (about 15 km away)
Registration opens soon!