Honorary Secretary’s Report

This letter is to introduce the new Honorary Secretary in harmony with the reports and letters of our President Prof. N. Gritzmann and the other (new) members of the EFSUMB Executive Bureau. This is, therefore, also to announce the XXth Congress of European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, in conjunction with the XIth Romanian Conference of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology and to refer to the letter of Joan Sporea in the same issue.

First of all I like to thank Lucas Greiner, the past Honorary Secretary, for all his excellent contributions and activities for EFSUMB and personally even more for his friendship.

The warm welcome by the EFSUMB Executive Bureau and by the brilliant and charming Gianna Stanford was outstanding. In the past few years the identity of EFSUMB was strengthened by the efficacious work of all the national societies of EFSUMB. The importance of our multinational watchdog group on ultrasound safety and important role of our education and publications committees have been previously highlighted.

The publication of the EFSUMB-guidelines for the use of ultrasonic contrast agents in the liver in the August 2004 edition of Ultraschall in der Medizin / European Journal of Ultrasound was one of the cornerstones of EFSUMB activities. The 2008 revisited and expanded new version include recommendations for other applications as well, e.g., kidney, vesico-ureteric reflux, pancreas, trauma and cerebral circulation. These guidelines are based on comprehensive literature surveys including results from prospective clinical trials and experience of many active members of the EFSUMB to improve the management of patients. They are also other ultrasound applications to reflect future advances in scientific knowledge and the rapidly evolving field of ultrasound technology which could be harmonised in a similar European way.

The new Honorary Secretary of our federation presents, therefore, with aims for the next two years including an EFSUMB course book written by contributors of all over Europe to strengthen the identity of our federation. The initiation and managing of European multicenter trials also with respect to effectiveness of patients care and costs are other goals for the next two years. The good relationship to the industry should be also strengthened as partners for improved patients care and technology.

In collaboration with Michael Bachmann Nielsen we initiated the "Monthly case reports" which is actually displayed on the EFSUMB website including videos (www.efsumb.org/). Please participate actively and submit your cases of the month to Email: [e-mail].

Please also note the website announcements for actual and future activities including EUROSON School and do not hesitate to contact EFSUMB for comments, considerations and improvements.