The PReS Imaging Working Party brings together paediatric rheumatologists and imaging experts from across Europe and beyond. Established in 2014, the Working Party promotes education, research and international collaboration in medical imaging within paediatric rheumatology.
Meet the core team:
- Chair: Linda Rossi ([email protected])
- Secretary: Stefano Lanni
- Past Chair: Daniel Windschall
- Past Secretary: Jelena Vojinovic
- Clinical Affairs Pillar: Silvia Magni-Manzoni
- Education Pillar: Christian Hoest
- Research Pillar: Clara Malattia
- Core team members: Dragana Lazarevic and Johannes Roth
Our aims
- Advance knowledge and expertise in imaging for paediatric rheumatic diseases
- Support education and practical training in paediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Promote standardised approaches to imaging assessment
- Facilitate international research and collaboration
- Encourage the effective integration of modern imaging techniques into clinical practice and research
Education and training
A major focus of the Working Party is education and training in paediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound, or MSUS.
The Working Party organises basic and intermediate MSUS courses that combine theoretical teaching with intensive hands-on training. Course topics include:
- The principles and limitations of musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Standardised examination techniques
- Normal and pathological ultrasound findings
- Doppler ultrasound techniques
- The use of ultrasound in juvenile idiopathic arthritis and other paediatric rheumatic diseases
The courses are delivered by a dedicated international faculty drawn from the Working Party’s core team. Faculty members contribute as organisers, speakers and practical tutors.
Imaging in Focus webinars
Launched in 2022, the Imaging in Focus webinar series provides an interactive platform for presenting and discussing interesting or challenging imaging cases in paediatric rheumatology.
The webinars cover imaging techniques including:
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- X-ray
- Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI
The case-based format encourages members to share their experience, explore different interpretations of imaging findings and discuss cases with colleagues from across the international PReS community.
Research and collaboration
Research is a central pillar of the Imaging Working Party. The Working Party facilitates international projects that seek to improve the use, standardisation and validation of imaging techniques in paediatric rheumatology.
PIUS knee and hip protocols
The Pediatric Internationally Agreed Ultrasound Knee and Hip-Synovitis protocols, known as PIUS-knee and PIUS-hip, were developed through the Imaging Working Party.
The protocols are designed to improve and standardise the ultrasound assessment of knee and hip synovitis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Synovitis is inflammation of the tissue lining a joint.
DAISY study
The DAISY study examines the relationship between clinical assessments, biomarkers and ultrasound findings throughout the course of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Dragana Lazarevic presented the study’s first results at the PReS Imaging Working Party meeting in Belgrade.
Future research priorities
The Working Party’s ongoing and future research priorities include:
- Standardising the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound to assess paediatric entheses and enthesitis. Entheses are the areas where tendons and ligaments attach to bones, while enthesitis refers to inflammation in these areas.
- Collaborating with CARRA to develop a global ultrasound activity score for juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
- Supporting the continued validation and implementation of imaging techniques in paediatric rheumatology research and clinical care.
The joint PReS-CARRA project to develop a global ultrasound activity score received the PReS-CARRA Grant 2026.
Get involved
The Imaging Working Party welcomes PReS members with an interest in medical imaging, including ultrasound, X-ray and MRI.
By participating in the Working Party, members can:
- Connect with an international network of paediatric rheumatologists and imaging experts
- Contribute to collaborative research projects
- Exchange knowledge and experience through case-based discussions
- Participate in educational courses and webinars
- Support the development of standardised imaging approaches in paediatric rheumatology
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