RSNA Brings Practical Cancer Imaging Education to Cape Town
Program will strengthen radiology education, collaboration and practical cancer imaging expertise across the continent
With cancer incidence rising across Africa and radiologists playing an increasingly central role in cancer care, RSNA’s upcoming Across Africa: Advancing Cancer Imaging program will bring radiology professionals together in Cape Town, South Africa, for focused, practical education in cancer imaging.
The inaugural event will take place Sept. 4–5 and is designed to strengthen oncology imaging expertise, foster collaboration and support more consistent imaging approaches across the continent.
“Over the two days, attendees can expect a highly interactive and collaborative learning experience that combines expert-led educational sessions with practical discussions focused on real-world challenges,” said course planning committee member Christelle Ackermann, MBChB, MMed Rad, PhD, head of the Division of Radiology and an associate professor at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town. “Beyond the academic program, the course provides a unique opportunity to build professional relationships with colleagues from across Africa and around the world who are working within similar healthcare environments.”
The course will bring together radiologists, trainees, educators, healthcare leaders and multidisciplinary cancer care teams to participate in lectures, case-based learning, interactive discussions and networking. The program will address cancers with a significant impact across Africa, including cervical, breast, prostate, lung, brain and head and neck cancers.
Across Africa is part of RSNA’s “Global Health Initiative: Access to Radiology” program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. The program’s first event will be sponsored by GE HealthCare. A second half-day event will take place at RSNA 2026 in Chicago, Nov. 29–Dec. 3.
Connecting Regional and Global Expertise
For Across Africa, faculty and speakers will join from institutions in South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, Türkiye and the United States.
“Institutions are sharing educational resources, participating in joint teaching activities and building regional professional networks that facilitate knowledge exchange and mentorship,” Dr. Ackermann said.
She also noted that many countries are investing in radiology services through acquisition of advanced imaging equipment, oncology-focused multidisciplinary teams and cancer imaging training programs. Growth across teleradiology services, virtual education platforms and regional fellowship opportunities helps bridge geographic and resource limitations.
“The Across Africa course provides a valuable platform to showcase these achievements, share successful models of implementation and encourage further collaboration that can accelerate progress in cancer care throughout the continent,” Dr. Ackermann said.
Sessions will emphasize standardized imaging protocols, structured reporting, cervical cancer staging, breast cancer diagnosis and reporting, prostate MRI, neuroradiology advances and AI applications in oncology.
Course planning committee member Frank J. Minja, MD, professor of radiology and imaging sciences at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, said the faculty intentionally built the program around real clinical scenarios.
“We wanted to design a course that is very practical in showcasing how imaging is integral to the care of cancer patients, from diagnosis through treatment,” Dr. Minja said. “We have also made sure to include actual clinical case examples during each module to emphasize practical learning points.”
That case-based approach is especially important in settings in which patients often present with advanced disease.
“Cervical and breast cancer are the number one and two cancers, respectively, in Africa—both of which require imaging for adequate clinical staging and treatment planning,” Dr. Minja said. “Most cancer patients in Africa present late with advanced disease stages, and imaging is critical to determine the extent of cancer spread prior to initiating any treatment plan.”
Dr. Minja said one key takeaway for attendees will be the value of consistent imaging approaches across institutions and care teams.
Advancing Cancer Imaging Through Collaboration
The in-person course will be held at the Biomedical Research Institute in Cape Town, reinforcing the city’s connection to RSNA’s global outreach efforts. The city was home to RSNA’s first Global Learning Center.
“Over the past six years, strong professional relationships, educational partnerships and collaborative networks have emerged from this program,” Dr. Ackermann said. “Hosting Across Africa in Cape Town reflects the natural evolution of these efforts and celebrates the partnerships that have helped shape this new educational platform.”
The program will also spotlight emerging advances. From a neuroradiology perspective, the course will showcase developments in the imaging of brain, spine and head and neck cancers, including the growing role of molecular classification in brain tumors.
“The move toward molecular classification of brain tumors—isocitrate dehydrogenase status, for example—has changed how we interpret imaging for patients with brain cancer patients,” Dr. Minja said. “Molecular classification has a greater impact on outcomes for cancer patients than imaging features alone.”
Because molecular diagnostics remain limited in many parts of Africa, awareness of these markers and their impact on imaging interpretation is increasingly important for radiologists, Dr. Minja added.
Faculty leaders see Across Africa as both an educational program and a platform for long-term professional connection.
“I am truly honored to be among the faculty for the RSNA Across Africa program to both share our experiences from East Africa and also learn from speakers and participants from across the African continent,” Dr. Minja said. “The Across Africa program is a natural extension of this community of learners.”
Registration is open for the Sept. 4–5 course in Cape Town.
For More Information
Learn more and register to attend Across Africa: Advancing Cancer Imaging.
Learn more about RSNA’s Global Learning Centers.
Read previous RSNA News stories on global radiology outreach:
Hands-On Experiences in Africa
Attendees can expand their learning experiences with two hands-on workshops offered in conjunction with the Across Africa: Advancing Cancer Imaging program.
Option 1: Breast Biopsy Bootcamp
Led by Toma Omofoye, MD
Join us for a focused, hands-on US-guided breast biopsy workshop. This practical session will cover rationale, step-by-step technique and expert guidance on navigating challenging cases, in a supportive, small-group setting designed to build confidence.
Option 2: Liver Imaging Workshop
Led by Nidhi Leehka, MBBS, MD
This interactive workshop will focus on a practical approach to liver ultrasound, including optimized scanning techniques, liver anatomy, standardized examination protocols, liver Doppler assessment, elastography and the sonographic evaluation of focal liver lesions. Participants will gain hands-on experience in image acquisition, Doppler assessment, lesion characterization and common clinical scenarios, with emphasis on techniques that can be readily applied in routine clinical practice.