Highlights from the Italian National Congress of Imaging in Pulmonology 2025: fostering implementation of advanced technologies for precision patient-centered care

Guido Marchi; Michele Mondoni

doi:10.5826/mrm.2026.1086

Highlights from the Italian National Congress of Imaging in Pulmonology 2025: fostering implementation of advanced technologies for precision patient-centered care

Authors

Guido Marchi Pulmonology Unit, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Department, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6122-7792
Michele Mondoni Respiratory Unit, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9672-3534

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5826/mrm.2026.1086

Keywords:

Thoracic imaging, Respiratory medicine , Medical education, Radiomics, Artificial intelligence, Robotics

Abstract

The Italian National Congress of Imaging in Pulmonology, held in Milan on November 21^st, provided a unique educational platform exploring the evolving role of thoracic imaging in respiratory medicine. Organized by the Italian Respiratory Society (SIP-IRS) Imaging Study Group, the congress brought together over 160 participants, including pulmonologists, radiologists, interventional specialists, and early-career professionals, reflecting the essential role of multidisciplinary collaboration in modern respiratory care. Topics included functional imaging approaches to small airway disease in COPD and asthma, multimodal imaging in lung transplantation, the role of CT angiography for haemoptysis management, and radiomics applications for quantifying emphysema patterns and fibrotic changes. The role of imaging in guiding inhaled and biological therapies was explored, alongside a lively debate on thoracic ultrasound for interstitial lung disease screening. Advanced sessions covered medical thoracoscopy techniques, quantitative ultrasound and artificial intelligence in pleural diseases, shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy for peripheral nodules, expanding cryobiopsy applications, and imaging’s role in monitoring progressive pulmonary fibrosis therapeutics. A distinctive feature was the first “Images in Pulmonology” contest, won by a remarkable case simultaneously depicting lung cancer and new life. This meeting report summarizes key congress highlights and underscores the importance of fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and structured imaging education to bridge the gap between technological capabilities and clinical expertise in respiratory medicine.

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