At the European Society of Oncologic Imaging (ESOI) Touchdown 2025 in Malta, radiologists and imaging specialists from around the world gathered to explore not just the science of oncologic imaging, but its soul. In a field defined by technology and precision, last year’s focus turned inward – to the art of communication, empathy, and the enduring humanity that binds medicine together.
With a growing presence across Europe, the European Society of Oncologic Imaging (ESOI) connects radiologists and imaging specialists dedicated to advancing cancer diagnosis and care. Through its educational programmes, workshops, and collaborative initiatives, the society fosters innovation, research, and the sharing of best practices in oncologic imaging.
The 2025 Touchdown meeting in Malta continued this tradition, bringing together over 250 participants from more than 20 countries for ESOI’s largest and most internationally diverse gathering to date. The programme highlighted the importance of enhancing patient communication alongside evidence-based radiologic practice, reflecting a growing recognition that technology and precision alone are not enough – the human dimension of radiology is equally critical.
Reflecting on ESOI’s global growth, Dr Melvin D’Anastasi (Congress President) says in his opening remarks:
Our reach now spans Europe, Asia, the United States, and Australia. Yet wherever we come from, we are united by the power of science and education. ESOI strives to bring people together to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and build lasting friendships.
That sense of unity set the tone for three days of reflection, learning, and connection. While cutting-edge imaging techniques, AI integration, and simulated tumour boards filled the programme, the heartbeat of the event remained something far more personal: how radiologists communicate.
A Profession in Transformation
The Minister for Health at the time, Mr Jo-Etienne Abela, echoed this sentiment in his address, situating Malta’s hosting of ESOI Touchdown within a broader vision of international cooperation and innovation. ‘This event reflects Malta’s commitment to advancing medical science and fostering collaboration across borders,’ he says. ‘Our common mission is to improve patient outcomes through shared knowledge and trust.’
His words resonated deeply with a profession in flux. As the population ages and medical imaging becomes more central to diagnosis and treatment, radiologists find themselves at a crossroads between technology and humanity. People are living longer, and with greater longevity comes increasing complexity in healthcare. Medical conditions often coexist, treatments interact, and diagnosis and management require a nuanced, multidisciplinary approach. At the same time, patients are no longer passive recipients of care – they are informed and engaged participants.
The question has shifted from ‘What’s the matter with the patient?’ to ‘What matters to the patient?’ Radiologists, situated at the intersection of diagnosis, treatment, and patient dialogue, are uniquely positioned to guide this journey. Contrary to the traditional image of radiologists as behind-the-scenes experts, they are increasingly seen as navigators of care, anchors of multidisciplinary teams, and interpreters not only of scans but also of meaning, helping patients and clinicians alike navigate uncertainty.
The Power of Words in a World of Images
Radiology, for all its technical sophistication, is fundamentally a human discipline. Behind each image lies a person whose life may change in an instant. One of the most moving moments of the opening session came when Ms Caroline Justich, chair of the European Society of Radiology Patient Advisory Group, shared her story: following a back injury, a scan revealed far more than a fracture.
‘A CT changed my life in an instant,’ she says. ‘Panic, tears, and more panic – because that lumbar fracture wasn’t just a fracture. The scan had also found Stage 4 cancer.’
Her story captured the central message of Touchdown 2025: radiologists do far more than detect disease. They help shape the patient’s story – often standing at the threshold of diagnosis, where compassion and clarity matter as much as accuracy.
At the same time, Justich shared that a 360-degree approach is essential – involving everyone in the medical pathway: referrers, radiologists, technologists, nurses, administrators, patients, and their families. As the starting point for making treatment possible, radiologists have the potential to accompany a patient’s journey from the very start, through treatment and beyond.
In this spirit, Justich’s Be Accepted campaign offers comprehensive support to women diagnosed with cancer, guiding them through the imaging and care pathway with clear communication and patient-centred workflow.
Setting the Tone: Patient Communication at the Heart of ESOI Touchdown 2025
The focus on communication in the opening session established the lens through which the rest of the conference unfolded. Participants carried these principles into live multidisciplinary team (MDT) simulations, observing real-case scenarios and reflecting on how patient dialogue could be incorporated more effectively. Facilitators encouraged attendees to consider not just what information is shared, but how it is delivered – timing, clarity, and empathy were as important as the content itself.
The sessions highlighted practical strategies for embedding patient communication into routine practice – from structured reporting designed to be accessible to patients, to workflow adaptations that make discussion and explanation integral to standard radiologic care. Evidence shows that such approaches improve patient understanding, reduce anxiety, and support treatment adherence. By integrating these lessons across the programme, ESOI Touchdown 2025 demonstrated that patient-centred communication is not an add-on, but a core element of evidence-based radiology.
Technology as Ally, not Adversary
No discussion of modern imaging would be complete without addressing the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). At ESOI Touchdown 2025, AI was not portrayed as a replacement for human expertise but as a partner in reclaiming what matters most. AI can help radiologists tackle the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ questions, but it cannot answer the ‘why.’ It’s our role to reclaim time to care for the patient by being present.
This reframing struck a chord. In an era when radiology workflows are stretched and systems operate under strain, the challenge is not only to work smarter but to stay human. As one attendee notes, ‘In complexity lies opportunity if we rethink how work is done, use technology intelligently, and prioritise connection.’
Touchdown 2025 embodied that philosophy: using innovation to amplify empathy rather than erode it. Interactive tumour board simulations underscored the value of collaboration, while workshops on patient-centred communication brought together radiologists, radiographers, and clinicians in a shared learning environment.
A Global Conversation and a Forward Vision
What makes the ESOI Touchdown meetings unique is their ability to combine intimacy with an international perspective – small enough for meaningful exchange, yet global in reach. Participants from across continents shared practices and cultural perspectives for integrating communication into oncologic imaging, recognising that listening is just as critical as speaking.
As the conference drew to a close, the overriding message was one of momentum and possibility. Touchdown 2025 was not simply a gathering to celebrate current expertise; it was a springboard for the next generation of patient-centred radiology, demonstrating how education, reflection, and collaboration can transform practice. By emphasising communication alongside technology, the meeting underscored that radiologists are uniquely positioned to guide patients through the cancer journey with clarity, empathy, and trust.
The ESOI executive board and local organisers were praised for curating a programme that balanced cutting-edge innovation with human insight – a duality that will continue to shape the society’s work. In Malta, surrounded by the sea that has connected cultures for millennia, ESOI Touchdown 2025 became a reminder that the most powerful image of all is not the one on the screen, but the one that forms when people truly see one another.
As the closing remarks concluded, the applause that followed celebrated not only the scientific excellence on display but also a future-focused vision: that patient communication, integrated into oncologic imaging, is poised to take flight, ensuring that even in a world of pixels and algorithms, the human connection remains at the heart of medicine.
Want to attend the ESOI Touchdown 2026? Have a look at the programme and register your attendance: https://www.esoi-society.org/events/
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