Soundeffects news | Prof Adrian Lim (UK)

Prof Adrian Lim (UK)

Imperial College London and Healthcare Trust BREAST & GENERAL

Professor Adrian Lim trained at Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals, London, where he became a consultant radiologist in 2003. Simultaneously holding an honorary senior lecturer position at Imperial College London, Prof Lim progressed to reader in radiology in 2010, adjunct professor in 2013, and professor of practice in 2017.

Adrian is head of ultrasound at Charing Cross Hospital, London and his specialist areas include advancing technologies of ultrasound and the use of novel techniques in functionally assessing disease processes with particular respect to breast, oncological and musculoskeletal imaging.

He has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and is an editor of the Ultrasound International Open Journal and associate editor of Ultrasound Medicine and Biology, Clinical Radiology and Ultrasound journals. He is the current president of the British Medical Ultrasound Society and an executive board member of EFSUMB. We ask Dr Lim some questions about his presentations ahead of ASA2024 Sydney.

What are some of the pitfalls of breast ultrasound? What sonographic tools do we have to improve lesion detection?

The isoechoic lesions, particularly those that are difficult to distinguish from normal glandular breast tissue, as well as microcalcifications, remain a challenge for breast ultrasound. Good B-mode imaging and continually improving image resolution with the utility of higher frequency probes are the key. Many of the manufacturers are working on artificial intelligence solutions to help detect and characterise breast lesions.

How could MRI/US fusion reduce the need for MRI-guided biopsies?

You will have to come to my workshop at the ASA meeting in Sydney to find out!

Do you see AI as a beneficial tool in assisting lesion identification and characterisation?

Yes, very much so, but the technology is still some years away from being fully integrated into our routine clinical practice.

What would be the key takeaway from your workshop ‘Elastography and fat quantification’?

Functional information about the liver, which ultrasound can now offer, is equally as important as the structural anatomical detail, particularly in chronic liver disease.

You talk about the following ultrasound technologies MFI, CEUS, SWE, ATI and Fusion as the ‘one-stop shop’ in assessing the liver. What advantages do these emerging techniques have over the more conventional B-mode liver assessment? Do you see these as useful screening tools or more feasible targeted assessments of the liver?

They provide additional information as an adjunct to conventional B-mode ultrasound and have shown to be integral to characterising focal liver lesions, and to a degree, lesion detection. The functional information attainable from these techniques is proving valuable in the management of patients with chronic liver disease.

What advice do you have for sonographers who are looking to advance their careers or stay updated in a rapidly evolving field?

Be part of the evolving field! Get involved in research projects and look to undertake a PhD. In addition, being part of learned societies such as ASA, BMUS, EFSUMB and WFUMB offers many educational and networking opportunities.