At the end of the current year Latin American Nuclear Medicine had three important national Congresses of the highest level that presented the results of research work performed in Brazil, Chile and Argentina. The three Congresses were of excellent quality and attendance and the discussion of research papers was complimented by Continuing Education activities of great interest. The Brazilian Congress took place at the end of October 2004 in the city of Aracaju in the Northeast Coast of Brazil. Traditional Brazilian hospitality expressed itself in an environment of great tropical beauty during the three days that lasted this event. Clearly the emphasis of interest was in Cardiology and Oncology, while contributions in the area of Neuropsychiatry were of minor significance. However, of major interest also were the contributions of Pet in Oncology that were a major contributor to the success of the meeting. This year the Brazilian Society of Nuclear Medicine decided to publish only abstracts submitted in English language as a mechanism of motivation to investigators to publish in this language of wider universal readership, this is of particular importance when using Alasbimn Journal as a means of dissemination of scientific material, as 60 - 70% of our readership originates in English speaking countries. Marcelo Tatit Sapienza MD was the Chairman of the Scientific Committee that organized this splendid Congress.
The First Chilean Congress of Nuclear Medicine took place at the beginning of November 2004 in the city of Santiago, Chile and was successful in attracting an audience that surpassed in 50% the best preCongress estimates. The analysis of the material presented in Santiago yielded similar results than the Brazilian Congress, namely, a preponderance of Nuclear Cardiology over other disciplines with an important number of papers in the area of Pet. This work originates at the Nuclear Medicine laboratory of the Hospital Militar in Santiago supported by the Cyclotron at the Chilean Commission of Nuclear Energy supplier of FDG. Continuing Education activities were official organized by Alasbimn and also by the Chilean Society of Nuclear Medicine and were conducted by Abbas Alavi MD professor of Nuclear medicine at University of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, by Carlos Buchspiguel MD from the Cardiology Center in San Paulo Brazil and by Isabel Roca Hospital d"Hebron Barcelona, Spain. Conferences had emphasis in the contributions of Pet in Nuclear Medicine and Pediatric Nuclear Medicine. All abstracts of papers presented are published in this issue of Alasbimn Journal. Teresa Massardo MD. Was the Chairperson of the Scientific Committee of the First Chilean Congress of Nuclear Medicine.
The Argentinean Congress of Nuclear Medicine took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the end of November 2004. Its program was enrichened by a large number of very distinguished International speakers that presented a broad synoptic vision and update of the current worldwide practice of Nuclear Medicine of the highest level, thus representing successfully an effort to disseminate among Latin-American audiences the current status of development of worldwide Nuclear Medicine.
On behalf of the Alasbimn Journal Editorial Committee I wish to extend our desire for a successful New Year and looking forward at your collaborations during 2005, I remain respectfully yours
Ismael Mena MD
Editor in Chief Alasbimn Journal
