IRIA annual conference 2026: key takeaways for practicing radiologists

The 79th Annual Conference of the Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA), held in Hyderabad from March 14-17, 2026, drew over 4,200 radiologists from across the country — making it the largest IRIA conference to date.

Key highlights included a consensus statement on AI integration in Indian radiology practice, updated guidelines for thyroid nodule management using the ACR TI-RADS framework adapted for the Indian population, and a dedicated track on teleradiology quality standards.

The teleradiology session was particularly relevant given the rapid growth of remote reporting services in India, with speakers emphasizing the need for standardized turnaround times, report quality metrics, and clinical history requirements — issues that platforms facilitating radiologist-center connections will need to address.

Notable research presentations included a multi-center study on dual-energy CT for gout detection in Indian patients, novel MRI sequences for hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in the setting of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the first Indian data on contrast-enhanced mammography as a supplemental screening tool.