During a prelude press conference held at the ECR 2008 (European Congress of Radiology) , Professor Maximilan F. Reiser, Congress President explained that ECR 2008, focused on women in radiology, with a mini-course in women's imaging, a special focus session on uterine fibroid embolization and a professional challenges session entitled "Women in Radiology".

According to. Reiser, women are still at a disadvantage in radiology. He said that many women must sacrifice their career in order to start a family, and therefore face professional disadvantages. Therefore, the professional challenges session focused on social responsibility in radiology and discussed possible solutions to the disadvantages still widely recognized in Europe.

Other speakers at the prelude press conference included Professor Gerhard Mostbeck, President of the Austrian Roentgen-Ray Society and Professor Christiane Kuhl from the University of Bonn. Kuhl presented an in depth look at how breast MRI can be used in the future as an additional tool in the fight against breast cancer. Mostbeck spoke about the sub-specialization of women's imaging and how it is developing in radiology diagnostics and intervention.
Also speaking were Professor Daniela Prayer from the General Hospital in Vienna who presented on pre-natal and fetal imaging. Professor Jean-Pierre Pelage spoke about the uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) procedure and the need for further investigations and collaborations between gynecologists and radiologists.