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

The Italian National Congress of Imaging in Pulmonology, held in Milan on November 21st, 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.