ESSR Conference - Imaging rheumatology 2026
- Start date:
- 19 March 2026
- Duration:
- 2 days
- Intended Audience:
- Medical specialist
Join us on 19 and 20 March 2026 during the interdisciplinary refresher course on 'Imaging Rheumatology' in Leiden, Netherlands. Guided by an international group of excellent speakers we will focus on Imaging Rheumatology. On Thursday the focus of the programme will be on axial skeleton and on Friday the programme focusses on peripheral skeleton. Furthermore we are welcoming prof.dr. D.M.F.M. van der Heijde on Thursday with her key-note 'Quantifying inflammation: the power of scoring for imaging and research '.
Programme:
• Special focus sessions on spondyloarthritis and ultrasound
• Interactive workshops on AxSpA
• Practical tips for joint injections
• Hands-on workshop on ultrasound
• Case presentations on early RA, OA and gout
• Panel discussions and Q&A
• Welcome reception on Thursday
Organisers: Dr. Monique Reijnierse (Leiden, Netherlands), PD Dr. Andrea Rosskopf (Zurich, Switserland) and Prof. dr. Tom Huizinga.
By bringing together the expertise and knowledge from both rheumatologists and radiologists, we aim to provide you with a comprehensive and enriching learning experience.
Venue
This conference will be held at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) in the Netherlands. The spacious Burumazaal, located in the building with its distinctive golden dome. It features excellent audiovisual facilities and microphones at every seat for easy interaction.
LUMC, Burumazaal (building 3)
Hippocratespad 21
Leiden, the Netherlands
Accomodation
For hotel accommodation, kindly visit the dedicated Visit Leiden website.
Accessibility by plane and train
Schiphol Amsterdam Airport is less than twenty minutes away. Upon arrival at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport, you can either travel by taxi to the LUMC or take the train from Schiphol to Leiden Central Station. The train, is the quickest and most convenient way to travel to Leiden. In Schiphol Plaza (the arrival hall) you will find several (yellow) train ticket machines and ticket desks. The train station itself is situated directly underneath the Schiphol Plaza. An one-way ticket will cost you around € 7 (you can pay either cash or by bankcard). You can also buy your ticket in advance on this website.
After arriving at Leiden Central Station, you can leave train station at the backside and the hospital will be on your left hand side.
CONCEPT PROGRAMME
Day 1 - Thursday 19 March 2026
| 08:30 | Registration |
| 09:00 | Welcome and introduction Monique Reijnierse |
| axSPA: Spine & SIJ Moderation: Monique Reijnierse & Floris van Gaalen | |
| 09:10 | Imaging in axial Spondyloarthritis – imaging protocols Winston Rennie |
| 09:30 | Ax SPA: Spine and SIJ: -radiologist ‘s guide to diagnosis Lennart Jans |
| 09.50 | SI joint inflammation differentials Anne Cotten |
| 10:10 | Rheumatologist’ view on AxSpA imaging and treatment Floris van Gaalen |
| 10:30 | Q&A |
| 10:45 | Morning break |
| 11:15 | Interactive workshops in three rounds (30 minutes per round) |
| 1 - Inflammatory spine and differentials (Sofia Ramiro & Floris van Gaalen) 2 - SI joints and differentials (Winston Rennie & Chiara Giraudo) 3 - Imaging of the hands in SpA and beyond (Anne Cotten & Iwona Sudol-Szopińska) | |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| Inflammatory diseases of the hand and foot (case-based approach): value of imaging Moderation: Andrea Rosskopf & Margreet Kloppenburg | |
| 14:00 | Rheumatoid arthritis: what you shouldn’t miss Annette van der Helm & Monique Reijnierse |
| 14:30 | Osteoarthritis of the hand Féline Kroon & Edwin Oei |
| 15:00 | Gout Lennart Jans |
| 15:30 | Q&A |
| 15:45 | Afternoon break |
| 16:15 | Keynote lecture by Désirée van der Heijde Quantifying inflammation: the power of scoring for imaging and research |
| 17:00 | Welcome reception |
| 19:30 | Dinner (optional) |
CONCEPT PROGRAMME
Day 2 - Friday 20 March 2026
| 07:45 | Registration |
| Special focus session on US of inflammatory joints Moderation: Monique Reijnierse & Marion Kortekaas | |
| 08:15 | Indications and US technique Ted Miller |
| 08:45 | Ultrasound anatomy and live demo upper extremity Ted Miller & James Teh |
| 09:15 | Ultrasound anatomy and live demo lower extremity James Teh & Ted Miller |
| 09:45 | Q&A |
| 10:00 | Morning break |
| Arthritis and interventions: when and how to puncture or inject– Indications and technique Moderation: Andrea Rosskopf & Hanna van Steenbergen | |
| 10:30 | Material and techniques for ultrasound guided injections Ted Miller |
| 10:45 | When to Favor Fluoroscopy or CT Guidance Laura Cox |
| 11:00 | Complications Richard Graham |
| 11:15 | Q&A |
| 11:25 | Interactive workshops - 2 rounds Ultrasound upper extremity (Ted Miller & Marion Kortekaas) (Richard Graham & Mies Korteweg) |
| 13:00 | Lunch |
| Refresher Course: Inflammatory differentials and Advanced Imaging Moderation: Anna Cotten & Annette van der Helm | |
| 14:00 | From deposition to detection of crystal arthropathies Monique Reijnierse |
| 14:15 | Separating the signals: imaging infection and arthritis James Teh |
| 14:30 | Synthetic CT in rheumatology imaging David Hanff |
| 14:45 | From Pixels to Diagnosis: AI in Imaging Arthritis Berend Stoel |
| 15:15 | Myositis Chiara Giraudo |
| 15:30 | Q&A |
| 15:45 | Closing conference Monique Reijnierse |
| 16:00 | End of the conference |
LUMC
Hippocratespad 21, 2333 ZD LeidenLUMC Leiden
Building 3 (education building)
Albinusdreef 2
| ESSR conference fee | € 550,- |
| Discounted fee physicians | € 400,- |
Discounted fee residents in training | € 290,- |
| Optional diner on Thursday in Leiden (location to be determined) | € 65,- |
*Please note: by registering, you agree to our Terms and Conditions, including the cancellation policy mentioned therein. Administration fees may be charged in the event of cancellation.
