Click here to read the Open Letter of the President of International Society of Cryosurgery

Dear Friends,

I am happy to inform you that the Trieste Congress of the International Society of Cryosurgery founded in 1974, was a great success for both the number and the level of unparalleled scientific participants.

As decided by the General Assembly, the International Society of Cryosurgery will close its office in Trieste and will move to Monterrey, Mexico, where lives my illustrious successor, Prof. Dr. Guillermo Elizondo- Riojas, who was appointed unanimously with no abstentions or opposed and then also by acclamation as the ISC next President.

Congratulations to him, and a fervent hope of good work also to our new Vice-President Dr. Pedro Torrecillas and to the next Meeting President Professor Dr. Carlos Hernandez. In Madrid Spain, where it was agreed to be held the next congress in 2013.

I sincerely thank my personal friend and Board Officer, Professor George Prokhorof and all the Members of the assembly meeting for my appointment as Honorary President.

Thanks to Professor Odysseas Zoras for his precious and continuous support as Vicepresident during the 6 years of my terms.

Have been truly unprecedented, exciting and challenging these 6-year of Presidency with three World Conferences and, beyond the customary speeches, I have to thank first of all the Full Members of Trieste who have supported me and have worked for free for the Society: first of all dr. Michela Miotti, my wife and secretary of ISC, then Sabrina, Walter, Carlo, Fulvio, Elena and all the Others. Without them nothing would have been possible of what ISC did.

I renew my personal and ISC founded in 1974 gratitude, to our Founding Fathers that, since 1974, have always maintained and have always confirmed our continuity to the ISC that was founded by them: Professor Giovanni Sesia and Professor Richard Ablin both with written evidence, and Professor Richard Ablin also with his honorable presence at the meeting. THANK YOU!

Thank you to all those who have participated in this conference bringing your valuable scientific contribution to cryotherapy.

Many thanks go also to those, and they are many, who have written me apologizing their inability to be present this time but still supporting ISC: thanks again!

Thanks to Professor Seif Randjibar Daemi and to ICTP for the important support in the meeting organization.

Thanks to its co-chairman Dr. Roberto Salvioni for his friendly support.

In our hearts will always remain vivid gratitude to you all for these years of working together!

Finally, a fitting salute and a fervent best wishes also go to the friends of the International Society of Cryosurgery, sister society recently founded on October 7 in Wien, Austria, and in particular to its newly elected President, Dr. Nikolai Korpan University Professor, to its Vice Presidents, Professor Dr. Peter Littrup and Dr. Kecheng Xu as well as to its Honorary President Professor Sajio Sumida.

At this point we want to give a public thanks to Professor Peter Littrup, Vice-President of the International Society of Cryosurgery of Wien, Austria, for his significant contribution and participation to our Trieste, Italy 16th World Congress of Cryosurgery of the International Society of Cryosurgery founded in1974.

The presence of Professor Peter Littrup in Trieste, Italy, and the friendship that he has proven to us all, and me in particular, demonstrates unambiguously and beyond any doubt the level of trust, respect and partnership that binds all the experts in cryosurgery of the world beyond any momentary bit of difference.

In closing a wish: that the meeting in Madrid see us all still united in the certainty that, as proven in Trieste, if until yesterday we were in the past of cryosurgery, today we are already in the future.

Thank you all and all the best,

Franco Lugnani MD

President of ISC

Photos of the XVI ISC World Congress, by Massimo Silvano