Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.
	A Partnership Dedicated to Radiation Protection

Meeting Summary

             The National Symposium on Fusion Imaging and Multimodalities: Technical and Regulatory Considerations was held February 18-20, 2004 in Kansas City, Missouri.  One hundred and twenty-six people representing state radiation control programs, physicists, physicians, technologists, industry representatives and federal regulators attended the symposium.  The speakers for the symposium were physicians, physicists, both state and federal regulators, nuclear medicine and x-ray technologists, and industry manufacturers.  These individuals represented the American College of Radiology, American Association of Physicists in Medicine, FDA, NRC, State Radiation Control Programs, Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section, American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, CTI/PET NET, RadCal, and Siemens. 

            The symposium presented technical and clinical information relative to Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), the fusion of these two technologies (PET/CT) as well as various training and cross training considerations.  Also presented was information relative to the radiation therapy treatments of GliaSite and TheraSpheres.  Representatives from the clinical setting, manufacturers and both federal and state regulators presented their perspectives on these issues. 

            The final session of the symposium consisted of a discussion of the future tasks and issues that should be addressed relative to the issues presented throughout the program.  Discussion was open to any attendee and a list of actions was developed.  The complete list of “Actions to be Taken” can be found within the proceedings for the symposium.  Efforts to prioritize these actions are underway and will obviously be ongoing.  Any actions and results may be documented in various ways including changes to the Suggested State Regulations as well as the development of other types of guidance documents, additional efforts in cooperative endeavors with professional associations/societies, and opportunities for additional training.  The intent of this symposium was not necessarily to solve the problems but to identify what problems may exist and consider ways to address them.  In many ways this was just the beginning of the work that should be done. 

            The attendees for the symposium were presented with the opportunity to evaluate the program and provide comments and feedback.  The vast majority of the evaluations reflected that the attendees were satisfied with the content of the program.  Many had written comments addressing future actions as well as suggestions for future symposium topics.  These comments will be reviewed and considered for future endeavors.

             The success of this program would not have been possible without the assistance of many people as well as the financial support of a number of organizations.  Financial assistance was provided by the American College of Radiology, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, the Food and Drug Administration, the Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologist Section and the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors.