MESSAGE FROM THE ECC CO-CHAIRS: 

“Live, Love, Learn, Laugh, and Leave a Legacy!”

We are thrilled to bring you the second edition of the SABI Early Career Committee (ECC) newsletter. The first issue marked the start of this initiative, and the enthusiastic response from our community has been inspiring. Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting us.his issue continues that momentum. Inside, you’ll find:

• Reflections from our mentors on navigating early career challenges
• Practical tips for aspiring and early career radiologists
• Updates on upcoming ECC events and opportunities to get involved
• Spotlights on members making an impact through research, education, and leadership.
  
  

SABI-ECC has a mission to create a home for radiology trainees and early career professionals where learning, mentorship, and collaboration thrive. The growth of ECC has not been possible without the supportive spirit of SABI; a community that empowers early-career members through mentorship, connection, and collaboration.

We look forward to celebrating the successes of our remarkable community.

Warmly,

Rob & Soheil

Co-Chairs, SABI Early Career Committee

Editorial:
Photon-counting CT in advanced body imaging: applications and prospects

Noor Fatima Majeed
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine

Introduction

By bypassing a step in the conversion of X-rays into electrical signals, photon counting CT (PCCT) has a mechanism different from that of conventional CT. While conventional CT detectors convert X-rays into light and then light into electrical signals using a photodiode, photon-counting detectors convert X-rays directly into electrons and receive them as electrical signals. The advantages are manifold, the most relevant of which are improvements in dose efficiency and spatial resolution. The former includes opportunities for reduction in radiation dose as well as contrast dose.

In addition to its benefits over conventional single-energy CT, PCCT has also demonstrated advantages over dual-energy CT (DECT). While DECT requires scanning with two different energy X-ray beams, photon-counting detectors allow virtual monochromatic image (VMI) reconstructions from single-energy data acquired at 120 kVp or 140 kVp. This eliminates the need to decide on the type of acquisition (single-energy versus dual-energy) prior to scanning. Moreover, the contrast-to-noise ratio of images at lower VMI reconstructions (below 60 keV) obtained using PCCT is higher than that of the corresponding images acquired using DECT.

Similar to DECT, PCCT post processing options include virtual noncontrast (VNC) reconstructions. VNC images created based on the spectral data from a photon-counting detector have similar CT attenuation accuracy to true noncontrast images. In fact, the PCCT significantly outperforms DECT in this domain [1]. This presents an opportunity for significant radiation dose reduction by potential elimination of the noncontrast phase in multiphase CT protocols.

PCCT has demonstrated applications in various organ systems in the abdominopelvic region. For instance, in liver imaging, promising applications include an improved detection of hypovascular liver metastases and superior visualization of subtle differences in contrast enhancement within hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), aiding evaluation of HCC response to treatment. PCCT also allows incidental detection of liver steatosis on contrast-enhanced images via VNC image reconstruction [2]. In the pancreas, PCCT has shown utility in both detection and evaluation of invasion in pancreatic cancer, and in the detection of suspicious enhancing mural nodules within intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms. In the kidneys, PCCT is useful for detection of small stones and for characterization of renal masses; and has been shown to perform equivalent to MRI for the latter purpose [3]. In abdominal CT angiography, PCCT offers superior detection of small vascular variants as well as small intravascular thrombi [4].

While there is no doubt that PCCT is an emerging health technology with a variety of benefits in advanced body imaging, there are some caveats. Achievement of an optimal contrast-to-noise ratio requires an in-depth knowledge of the wide range of scanning parameters as well as the range of post-processing tools that are available to the user [5]. For example, PCCT is equipped with a wide range of reconstruction kernels. The kernels most relevant in the abdominopelvic region are the body regular (Br) and the body vascular (Bv) kernels. The numbers in the reconstruction kernel indicate the resolution index number. In general, the resolution increases with increasing index numbers, but so does the image noise. Use of the appropriate denoising algorithm strength is therefore essential, and the currently available clinical photon-counting CT is equipped with four levels of quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR) strength. This results in a large number of permutations available when selecting the perfect combination of just the kernel, resolution index number, and denoising algorithm; and additional scanning parameters (such as scan mode, tube potential, etc) would also need to be optimized. Ideally, the scanning parameters would be tailored to each individual patient and exam indication in order to achieve the optimal image quality for each study, adding layers of complexity to the imaging workflow [6].

Additional challenges which have resulted in a lack of widespread adoption include the large amount of data extracted, amounting to approximately 16-fold that of a standard CT scan, giving rise to problems with data storage and processing [7]. Furthermore, despite evidence that image quality is improved with PCCT, it remains unclear whether this increase results in improvement in key health outcomes, and large-scale multicenter studies would be required to demonstrate long term benefit as a result of this technology. With the cost of PCCT scanners being 3 to 5 times higher than conventional CT, such studies are imperative to determine whether the additional cost is justified. This does not take into account the additional training requirements that would be needed for technologists and other operating and maintenance staff.

Final Thoughts

References

1. Sartoretti T, Mergen V, Higashigaito K, Eberhard M, Alkadhi H, Euler A. Virtual Noncontrast Imaging of the Liver Using Photon-Counting Detector Computed Tomography: A Systematic Phantom and Patient Study. Invest Radiol 2022; 57(7):488-493

2.  Niehoff JH, Woeltjen MM, Saeed S, et al. Assessment of hepatic steatosis based on virtual non-contrast computed tomography: Initial experiences with a photon counting scanner approved for clinical use. Eur J Radiol 2022; 149:110185

3. Homayounieh F, Gopal N, Firouzabadi FD, et al. A Prospective Study of the Diagnostic Performance of Photon-Counting CT Compared With MRI in the Characterization of Renal Masses. Invest Radiol 2024; 59(11):774-781

4. Kisohara M, Kitera N, Itoh T, Murai K, Hiwatashi A, Kawai T. Identification of a small thrombus in the left ventricle identified on iodine maps derived from dual-source photon-counting detector CT. Radiol Case Rep 2024; 19(4):1404-1408

5. Onishi H, Tsuboyama T, Nakamoto A, et al. Photon-counting CT: technical features and clinical impact on abdominal imaging. Abdominal Radiology 2024; 49(12):4383-4399

6. Dane B, Froemming A, Schwartz FR, Toshav A, Ramirez-Giraldo JC, Ananthakrishnan L. Photon counting CT clinical adoption, integration, and workflow. Abdominal Radiology 2024; 49(12):4600-4609

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Case of the Issue

CASE OF THE ISSUE #2

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SABI Leadership Interview: Dr. Desiree Morgan: Looking Ahead to This Year’s Annual Meeting

Interviewed by: Surbhi Raichandani, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine,
Atlanta, GA, USA

Dr. Desiree Morgan is a Professor of Radiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Radiology. Within the Society for Advanced Body Imaging (SABI), she has been deeply engaged in leadership and educational initiatives, serving on committees, mentoring trainees, and shaping the society’s programming. She is widely recognized for her contributions to abdominal imaging and radiology education, and continues to be an active voice in advancing SABI’s mission of innovation and collaboration in body imaging.

What first drew you to the society, and how has your journey within SABI shaped your career?

What first drew me to SABI was when it was still SCBT, it was all about the science. You sent your best science to this meeting, period. If you wanted your abdominal, MSK, or chest advanced imaging research to get noticed, it was highly competitive and still is a very highly competitive research session. You came because you thought you had something really great and innovative to share, and this is where you wanted to present it. That’s why I came first as a junior attending in the early nineties.

I got busy with other things for a while, but when Dual Energy CT came along, I was doing pre-meeting workshops and wasn’t even a member yet. I decided to jump back in the game around 2010, and I’ve been all in ever since. SABI is totally founded on science and technical development, that’s what has shaped my entire journey here.

SABI has a reputation for being innovative, collaborative, and welcoming. From your perspective, what makes the SABI annual meeting stand out compared to other radiology conferences?

The one feature that really makes this meeting different is that we deliberately put in time for questions and answers. We want people in the audience to ask questions. We want experts who are in the audience, not even on the panel, to weigh in with their perspectives. It’s about real discussion.

Unlike other meetings, whether it’s RSNA, Roentgen Ray, SAR, or lots of other meetings, we allow time for interaction. It’s really important that we allow time for interaction. The whole time I’ve been on the board and even before, we’ve set up debates, having different points of view so that people who are trying to contemplate “should I embark on that adventure” in this part of imaging can hear both sides.

We preserve that Q&A time religiously. If you’ve ever set up a program, time is precious, and presenters sometimes overstretch their time, but we try not to let that happen. We’re not talking to people; we’re trying to have people engaged in the conversation.

Mentorship and education are central to both your own career and SABI’s mission. What unique opportunities does SABI provide for trainees, early-career members, and those looking to get more involved?

There’s the informal networking at the SABI annual meeting that’s based on our work and everyone learning from each other, that’s really important. Through the ECC, we’ve created deliberate programming. When I was course director last year, we had ECC-focused programming for the first time ever. If you were in the ECC and submitted a plenary or workshop, we marked you as ECC, so we knew all the early career people and what they were presenting. We wove them into the whole meeting and created Rising Star sessions with deliberate mentoring and pairing of ECC members with fellows to coach them and give advice on their presentations ahead of the annual meeting.

One of my favorite things is the Three Pearls session, which tends to be ECC heavy and super high energy, it’s so invigorating seeing people excited about what they’re doing and want to share with everyone else. That comes out of recognizing the energy and enthusiasm in the ECC and trying to figure out how we can make that a key part of the meeting.

We’re also expanding our mentoring boot camp this year. Neil Rofsky started this fantastic program called “coaching as a leadership style” with a small group; his first group of mentees in the program are the SABI superstars now, but they were coming up at the time. The second year they had several of the initial participants pay it forward with smaller year long longitudinal mentor groups, and now we’re making that much bigger. It’s a longitudinal process, but this event at the annual meeting will jumpstart it.

This mentoring is another deliberate step we’re taking at SABI because we think it’s the right thing to do. It separates us out as being committed to bringing up the next generation of superstars in academic radiology, and we welcome people in private practice to participate too- you can lead in so many things. I’m telling you, this particular coaching/mentoring course will change your life. It did mine.

This year’s meeting has a fantastic program. What sessions, workshops, or themes are you personally most excited about, and why should attendees be looking forward to them?

This is the hardest question because I’m excited about all of it! If you just take Saturday alone, for the second year in a row, we’ve paired with AI in Radiology Education (AIRE). That’s something led by Jordan Perchick. For no cost, he had been educating residency training programs across the US on AI and getting experts to donate their time to do that. Now that program is partly administered by SABI. Our annual meeting attendees can go to the virtual AIRE sessions in the week preceding the meeting. Then on Saturday morning at the annual meeting, there’s this joint session where we get together and talk about what we need from AI, it’s more of an exchange of ideas.

The mentoring boot camp on Saturday is fantastic because instead of just five people per year, we’re broadening that reach significantly. Then there’s the Beyond the Reading Room session where I’m talking about mentoring and how to get the most out of it.

And then we’re having a joint reception with SRU who will be finishing up their meeting at the same venue! We’re going to be together on a rooftop with music and hopefully line dancing in Nashville. I think that’s going to be really cool and fun. Again, that’s just the first day.

Sunday, I’m excited about the research, it’s still highly competitive, and you see amazing things. The awards we give, like the Hounsfield Award and the Lauterbur Award, recognize technological advancement that drives the importance of our mission-what we’re doing- at SABI. I love science.

The presidential lecture features Jonathan Metzl from Vanderbilt, he’s a psychiatrist and author who talks about equity and important social issues. And I’m looking forward to Three Pearls crescendoing on Tuesday night, followed by Rising Stars on Wednesday.

There’s a ton of plenaries in between and a gazillion workshops, of course. I’m definitely going to attend the workshops presented by my UAB mentees, that’s a big part of the joy of helping guide new folks to this society that I am dedicated to. That’s how I would answer that question.

For someone attending SABI this year, what do you hope they’ll take away from the meeting that will keep them energized and inspired in their practice?

I hope they learn a lot, but what I really want them to take away is the feeling of belonging, of learning, of being seen. I want them to talk to people who are approachable, yet they invented MR sequences. You can talk to pioneers in our field and have intimate conversations because it’s not so big, it’s small. We’ve had discussions on the board about how big we want to be, and we want to keep SABI not super small but small enough where people really feel like they’re there and they’re an important part of the meeting, no matter your level of experience.

When we put our minds together, we learn so much more. It’s so catalyzing, right? It’s the feeling we walk away with. Yes, we have more knowledge. Yes, we might be inspired to do other research, but it’s that feeling of belonging and wanting to come back again and participate and do more for the society. That’s what I hope people take away when they leave.

SABI is known for being a close-knit and welcoming community. What advice would you give first-time attendees on how to make the most of their experience and build lasting connections?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, informally in the lobby, at sessions, just put yourself out there. It does require some vulnerability because you might think, “Who am I to ask these questions?” But we welcome that exchange. This meeting is all about exchange of ideas to make everyone better.

I think we’re doing something for newcomers, the membership committee might be working on an “if you’re new to SABI, come here” orientation. It’s not as big as RSNA where you need a game plan, so you can meander and change your mind. But really, just be present in the plenaries. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at the mic, and remember you can ask questions anonymously through the app too.

We used to do this really cool thing, we used to have pieces of paper. Can you imagine? People would write questions on pieces of paper, and our executive director would walk up and down collecting them and hand them to us at the podium. It was completely anonymous, so people didn’t need to feel like “oh, this is a dumb question.” That’s part of that important Q&A culture we preserve.

The barriers should be lowered to just engage as much as possible at this meeting. We’re all here to learn from each other, and every question contributes to that collective learning experience.

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JCAT'S HIGHLIGHTS/Literature Picks

SABI-ECC, JCAT Highlights 

1. Majeed NF, Macey M, Amirfarzan MB, Sharifi S, Wortman JR. MRI features of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2025 Jan;50(1):169-184. doi: 10.1007/s00261-024-04476-5. Epub 2024 Jul 20. PMID: 39031181.

Description: Learn about the imaging appearance patterns seen in the rare entity of combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma, including correlation with pathology.

2. Singh S, Chaurasia A, Raichandani S, Grewal H, Udare A, Jawahar A. Commentary: Leveraging Large Language Models for Radiology Education and Training. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2025 Mar 11. doi: 10.1097/RCT.0000000000001736. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40164970.

Description: See how to integrate large language models within radiology education and training programs, including challenges and ethical implications.

1. Sari, L., Rigiroli, F., Brook, A. et al. Preventing missed malignancies: impact of standardized radiology-pathology concordance assessment in CT-guided omental and mesenteric biopsies. Abdom Radiol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-025-05183-5

Description: Implementing a standardized radiology-pathology concordance assessment can prevent missed malignancies.

2. Mona Dabiri, Rodrigo Luna, Shivani Ahlawat, Laura M. Fayad, MR Imaging of Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinics of North America, Volume 33, Issue 3, 2025, Pages 469-481, ISSN 1064-9689, ISBN 9780443313721, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mric.2025.03.006.

Description: A detailed review of benign and malignant PNSTs, focusing on advanced MR techniques—including diffusion-weighted imaging and whole-body MRI—for diagnosis, tumor characterization, and monitoring in NF syndromes

3. Swati Deshmukh, Mona Dabiri, Shivani Ahlawat, MR Imaging of Diffuse Peripheral Neuropathy, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinics of North America, Volume 33, Issue 3, 2025, Pages 455-467, ISSN 1064-9689, ISBN 9780443313721, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mric.2025.03.005.

Description: Comprehensive overview of diffuse peripheral neuropathies, highlighting the diagnostic utility of MR neurography in differentiating immune-mediated, hereditary, infectious, and systemic causes

4. Pitman, Jenifer; Fayad, Laura M.; Dabiri, Mona; Ahlawat, Shivani, Classification of Peripheral Nerve Injury, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinics of North America, Volume 33, Issue 3, 2025, Pages 427-436, ISSN 1064-9689, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mric.2025.03.003

Description: This review outlines MR neurography–based grading of peripheral nerve injuries, emphasizing the role of NS-RADS and imaging in guiding management

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Announcments 

Annual meeting ECC Networking and Mentoring Events 

Join us for the ECC (Early Career) Happy Hour on Sunday, October 12th, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. This event is designed for early-career professionals to unwind, network, and build connections with peers in a relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy refreshments and engage in meaningful conversations as we celebrate your journey in the industry. Don’t miss this chance to connect and collaborate with fellow early-career attendees

Featured ECC Workshops at SABI 2025 Annual Meeting:

Title: Own the Room Before You’re Invited In: Addressing the Leadership Gap
Speakers: Surbhi Raichandani, MD, Sadna Nandwana, MD (Emory University School of Medicine)
Date & Time: Sunday, Oct 12, 11:30-12:00 PM

Title: Barriers to Success: Bias, Burnout, and Breaking Through
Speakers: Surbhi Raichandani(Emory University School of Medicine), Noor Fatima Majeed (Emory University School of Medicine)
Date & Time: Monday, Oct 13, 11:00-11:30AM

Title: Current Status of Artificial Intelligence in Liver Imaging: Application in Cirrhotic Liver Imaging and Integration with LI-RADS
Speakers: Melina Hosseiny (UCSD), Noor Fatima Majeed (Emory University School of Medicine)
Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct 14, 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Title: Pathways & Possibilities: Why We Chose Radiology and Medicine
Speakers: Surbhi Raichandani, MD, Ayushi Gupta, MD (Emory University School of Medicine)
Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct 14, 11:30 AM -12:00 PM

Featured Abstracts at SABI 2025 Annual Meeting: 

Title: Ensemble Multi-Task Neural Network for Differential Detection of Pneumonia and Pulmonary Edema on Chest Radiographs Using Clinically Verified Ground Truth
Speakers: Melina Hosseiny
Date & Time: Sunday, Oct 12, 9:30 AM 

Title: Non-Cardiovascular Calcification Measures and Warranty Period of a Zero CAC in Young Adults: Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Speakers: Elena Ghotbi
Date & Time: Sunday Oct 12, 11:00 - 11:30 AM

Title: Quantitative Emphysematous Changes on Chest CT and Deep Learning Derived Volumetric Vertebral Bone Loss in Non-COPD Individuals: A Multilevel Longitudinal Analysis from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Speakers: Elena Ghotbi
Date & Time: Sunday, Oct 12, 9:30- 10:50 AM

Title: Statin Initiation and Longitudinal Changes in CT-Derived Volumetric Vertebral Bone Mineral Density: An Emulated Target Trial from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Speakers: Elena Ghotbi
Date & Time: Tuesday Oct 14, 5:30 - 7:00 PM

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Meet Your ECC Team: 

Co-Chairs

Vice Chairs

Innovation Liaisons

Communication Liaisons

Research Liaisons

Education Liaisons

Medical Student Liaison

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ECC MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Lutfullah Sari, MD
Academic title: Instructor in Radiology, Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians
at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Area of Interest in Body Imaging: Gastrointestinal radiology

What Excites You About Body Imaging?

Helping our patients by diagnosing the cause of their complaints and being part of resolving their symptoms—both through accurate diagnosis and image-guided interventions.

What research projects are you currently working on?

I am part of a multicenter study evaluating the diagnostic yield and safety of percutaneous image-guided biopsies of bowel lesions. The study includes data from five institutions spanning 2010–2024. We analyze demographic and procedural data, and correlate biopsy results with final surgical pathology.
Additionally, I actively participate in our weekly colorectal cancer multidisciplinary tumor board meetings. As part of my faculty role, I deliver lectures throughout the academic year to Harvard Medical School students, radiology residents, and fellows. I also engage in hands-on readouts and perform procedures alongside my colleagues.

What’s a fun fact about you?

After busy workdays, my favorite thing is spending time with my daughter—exploring new places together, whether in nature or around the city. My wife Zeynep and I also enjoy winding down with legal drama series; we recently watched The Lincoln Lawyer, which we both really liked.

If you weren’t in radiology, what career would you have chosen?

Radiology is truly my passion—I couldn’t imagine pursuing any other career!

What do you value most about being part of ECC-SABI?

The community is incredibly welcoming and intellectually vibrant. What stands out most to me is the collaborative spirit and the diversity of perspectives. You get to learn from peers and mentors across institutions, each bringing their own expertise and energy. It’s inspiring to see how much innovation and support flows through this network. Whether it’s through shared research, educational initiatives, or simply exchanging ideas, the ECC-SABI community fosters growth in a way that’s both professional and personal.

What motivated you to join SABI and the ECC?

I was motivated to join SABI and ECC through the encouragement of my colleagues, and I’m grateful for their support.

What advice would you give to residents/fellows entering the field?

I joined SABI-ECC during my last fellowship, and I wish I had joined earlier! My advice is to get involved as early as possible—being part of this multi-institutional community is incredibly enriching.

How do you envision your career five years from now?

Looking ahead, I hope to continue growing in academic radiology, focusing on my areas   of interest and contributing meaningfully to the scientific community.