Najat Boukhrissi
Hôpital Sheikh Zayd, Rabat

Until 1975, neuroradiological examinations in Morocco were performed by either neurosurgeons or neurologists. Then, the first neuroradiologist, N. Boukhrissi went to Paris for one year of training as a resident of College de Medecine des Hbpitaux de Paris (CMHP) at Hospital Beaujon with Pr C. Marsault and Hospital la Salpetriere with Pr J. Bories, J.J. Merland, J.J. Thiebot. Opportunities were provided to attend seminars organised by the C.E.P.U.R on head and neck imaging and held in Kremlin Bic8tre (Pr D. Doyon), Centre National Ophtalmologique des Quinze Vingts (CNO XV XX) (Pr E.A. Cabanis), Fondation Ophtalmologique Rothschild (Pr J. Vignaud ). It was the first time that I saw the symbolic father of the French neuroradi-ology Pr H. Fishgold, and the pioneer of the interventional neuroangiography Dr R. Djindjian. Also during this period, I had young French colleagues who became later well known neuroradiologists in the world such as J. Chiras.

The international symposium of Neuroradiology held at Heidleberg, Germany in 1978, was memorable. There, the greatest leaders of the world took part like icons Cronquist, Greitz, Debrun, Serbinenko, Taveras, Hilal, Salamon, Wackenheim, Ruggiero, Du Boulay, Moseley.

Back in Morocco and having passed the lecturer degree of Radiology in 1980, it was my duty to promote the training of three other neuroradiologists Z. Tazi, N. Hamdouch and F. Bekkali at Hospital Avicenne with our Radiology's master Dr Gillet. They followed the same track, and went to develop their skills as residents of College de Medecine des Hbpitaux de Paris with D. Doyon - Kremlin Bic6tre, J. Vignaud - Fondation Rothschild, E.A. Cabanis - CNO XV XX and J.J. Merland - Lariboisiere .

Simultaneously, during the 80's three other Moroccan neuroradiologists were following their studies and training, at Paris (Zouaoui with Pr Metzger - Hospital la Pitie), at Marseille (M. Jiddane with Pr G. Salamon and Pr C. Raybaud) and at Bordeaux (M. Bouamama with Pr J.M Caille).

Since 1983, the stage of Neurosciences in Morocco is the Specialities' Hospiial at the university's medical center (UMC) of Rabat. Actually, this institute which was built in 1980-82 is the only center in the country where students and residents may train in both head and neck specialty, neurol-ogy, ; neurosurgery neurophysiology, neuropathology, neuroradiology and neurorehabilitation. That is why in 1982, the neuroradiological department received the first total body C.A.T in Moroccan schools and interventional neuroangiographic equipment. Later, in the 90's there was a need to update the plants with a 1.5 tesla MRI, a helicoidal scanner as well as the digitalization of the angiographic system.

This was a key for promoting the Moroccan neurora-diology. As a matter of fact, these plants attracted many brilliant assistant professors, N. Chakir, R. El Hassani, L. Sanhaji, A. Quessar who chosed this field of radiology because of this complete arsenal which allowes the manage-ment of diversified pathologies in Neurosciences. After one or two years of training in Paris with A. Gaston - Creteil, J.J. Merland - Lariboisiere, K. Marsot Dupuch - Saint Antoine, they taught students and residents who were following diverse fields of study in neurosciences and coming from other medical schools of Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania.

However some of the first neuroradiologists left the public medical sector to partner with other radiologists in private practice in Casablanca and Rabat. Over time, this institute contributes to the promotion of neuroradiology all over the country. Meanwhile, it is the reference center of the nervous system's pathologies.

Consequently, we were able to collect some of the first most important series of neurovascular pathology (neuro Behcet) infectious diseases (neurosyphilis hydatido sis and tuberculosis of the brain, the spine, the orbit and the nasopharynx). In the same purpose of developing our experience in interventional neuroangiography, a partnership program with J.J. Merland - Lariboisiere has been established (1997-2001) and supported by the UMC - Rabat and the cooperation department of the French Foreign Office. Also, a collaboration has been made between neuro-radiologists of Hospital Specialities and Faculty of Sciences - Rabat in the field of MRI and spectro RM since 1995.

As a part of neurosciences, the Moroccan neuroradi-ology is connected both to the Moroccan Society of Radiology (MSR) and the Moroccan Society of the Neurological Sciences (MSNS). Indeed neuroradiogists are dynamic participants in the MSR, since 1978 6 out of its 11 presidents have been neuradiologists. There was also 1 neuroradiologist out of 4 presidents of the MSNS since 1982. Under the auspices of the MSR they organized the 2°° neuroradiological meeting of the Mediterranean Sea in Rabat in 1988 with international guest speakers like S. Hilal, M. Gado R. Zimmerman (USA), D. Doyon, L. Picard, C. Raybaud (France), J. Tamraz (Liban), R. Hamza (Tunisia), J. Ruscalleda (Spain).

As well, the president of the 10' Congress of the Pan African Association of Neurological Sciences held in Marrakech 1992 was a neuroradiologist.

Since 2000, an another neuroradiologist has become an efficient board member of the Foundation Hassan II devoted to prevention and care of nervous system diseases in Morocco.

Thanks to their European colleagues and teachers who facilitated seminars and workshops as guest speakers like D. Baleriaux (Brussels) E.A. Cabanis, J.J. Merland (Paris), J.M. Caille (Bordeaux), J.L. Dietemann (Strasbourg), C. Manelfe, A. Bonafe, I. Berry (Toulouse), L. Picard (Nancy), N. Girard, C. Raybaud, G. Salamon (Marseille), neuroradiologist board members of the MSR and MSNS are promoting an up-to-date neuroimaging science. Unfortunately their staff is limited in the country: from 1975 to 1990, neuroradiology was the main activity for merely 10 radiologists; now, they are 15 in 2001 while there are 350 radiologists in Morocco.

Yet, neuroradiology alone can't provide a living wage in a developing country like Morocco regarding to the low level of the national product index and the high price of plant investments. Despite all that, the Health Office and the Defence Office are equipping other university medical centers which are managing, partly nervous system diseases and casualties: Hospital Avicenne and the Military Hospital Mohamed V - Rabat, Hospital 20 Aout and Emergency Unit of University Medical Center Ibn Rochd - Casablanca.

By the same effort, we, Moroccan neuroradiologists, are planning to strengthen our web by creating a Moroccan section in the MSR or a Moroccan Society of Neuroradiogy as soon as possible.

Let us have hope for the beginning of the 21'1 century and trust faithfully in our passion for neuroimaging.

(*) from “A History of Neuroradiology (1895-2002), E.A. Cabanis and MT Iba-Zizen Editors, Paris, 2002, pages 353-354, modified (published during the XVIIth symposium Neuroradiologicum, Luc Picard, President, Paris, France, August 18-24, 2002).