Report on the Regional Workshop on Image Reading Conducted by the Japanese Society of Nuclear Cardiology

Abstract

Since 2007, The Japanese Society of Nuclear Cardiology (JSNC) has been conducting regional training workshops on film reading for physicians and technologists who are just beginning their career in cardiac nuclear medicine examinations. JSNC will continue this workshop to expand the fields of cardiac nuclear medicine examinations.

Since 2007, The Japanese Society of Nuclear Cardiology (JSNC) has been conducting regional training workshops on film reading for physicians and technologists who are just beginning their career in cardiac nuclear medicine examinations. This workshop is conducted by dividing Japan into seven regions, while each region has its own schedule.

In each workshop, lectures on general and specific topics have been given in classroom lectures, as well as actual film reading lecture session. In particular, the film reading course is designed as a case study with experts, and in some regions, the experts and several participants are divided into small tables to discuss actual cases. One of the advantages of this style of conducting the lecture is that participants who might not be able to find the opportune moment to ask their questions in a large class can also check their questions with the experts in the middle of the reading. In fact, it is believed that they often feel this way since they are just beginners. Pointing to actual images in small table presentation during film reading can help participants deepen their understanding.

Also, the other advantages of holding these events in their respective regions is that participants can build relationships with local experts. In fact, at other conferences and institutes held in regional areas, participants in the workshop will often meet the experts who have attended the course. At that occasion, it is possible to receive advice on clinical questions and instruction on reading actual cases that have been experienced. This is another advantage of holding workshops in the region.

In this training workshop, JSNC legends have taken the leadership in preparing and distributing a textbook that covers the general and specific topics used in the classroom lectures (Figure 1). The first edition in 2007 was produced under the editorship of Dr. Nagara Tamaki and the efforts of six legends: Drs. Junichi Yamazaki, Shigeyuki Nishimura, Akira Yamashina, Shinichiro Kumita and Kenichi Nakajima. Revisions have been made since to keep up with the changing needs of the future. Dr. Junichi Yamazaki was the chief editor of the 2nd edition, Dr. Yoshio Ishida of the 3rd edition, Dr. Kenichi Nakajima of the 4th and 5th editions, and Dr. Masao Moroi of the 6th edition. A casebook has also been published since the third edition.

Table 1 shows the number of participants in each region in 2022. The multiple host cities in the table mean that the event was held in each of the locations. Although some regions were unable to hold the event in 2022 due to COVID, a total of 640 people participated in the event (Figure 2).

JSNC will continue this workshop to expand the fields of cardiac nuclear medicine examinations. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation in this program.

Acknowledgments

I would like to express the deepest appreciation to Mr. Takehiro Ishikawa for his help in organizing and archiving the JSNC’s long history.

Sources of funding

　None.

Conflicts of interest

None declared.