Global Definition of Interventional Radiology Statement Advances Technology, Benefits Patients

The first global statement defining interventional radiology (IR)--one designed to benefit medical treatment for individuals -- has been issued that addresses the evolution, impact, and future direction of this minimally invasive specialty, emphasizing the worldwide availability of this specialized medical care.

The collaborative statement was issued by the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR; Fairfax, VA, USA), with the support of 41 international societies representing 10,000 interventional radiology physicians. It is the result of more than two years of collaborative work, and is being copublished in the August 2010 issue of the SIR's Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and in the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe's journal.

"Until now, there has been no single document--no blueprint--defining interventional radiology that has had broad international support. It was time for interventional radiology to organize itself, worldwide, as a single family," said SIR president James F. Benenati, M.D., FSIR, who represents the U.S. organization of nearly 4,500 doctors, scientists, and allied health professionals dedicated to improving healthcare through minimally invasive treatments. Interventional radiologists offer the least invasive and most advanced treatment options for major health problems (including cancer, cardiovascular and venous disease, spine fractures, stroke, and uterine fibroids), but many may not be aware of these advances, he noted.

In the United States, IR is a recognized subspecialty with its own board certification exam, and IR is defined by its strong practice of innovation and adaptation. However, the need for a universal statement became evident because there are countries where interventional radiology may not be recognized formally as a "real" specialty or subspecialty, explained Dr. Benenati. "Continuously increasing numbers of patients are being treated by interventional radiologists--without the need for open invasive surgery, without the need for a scalpel. When you have an inclusive, multinational document that represents more than 10,000 doctors worldwide, it is hard to deny their existence," added Dr. Benenati, an interventional radiologist and medical director for the Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory at Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute (Miami, FL, USA). "Interventional radiology is a unique specialty distinct from all other radiologic, medical, and surgical specialties. While IR has been helping patients for more than 40 years, it is still a relatively new specialty; however, it has become integral to the delivery of health care worldwide."

The "Global Statement Defining Interventional Radiology" puts into writing the basic elements of IR that apply to interventional radiologists anywhere in the world. It stresses that IR doctors "provide patient evaluation and management relevant to image-guided interventions in collaboration with other physicians or independently."

The collaborative statement evolved over time, with input from IRs from nearly every continent. Work on the collaborative statement began two years ago by John A. Kaufman, M.D., FSIR, FCIRSE, then SIR president, and his European counterpart, Jim A. Reekers, M.D., FCIRSE, FSIR, then president of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE).

It was important to include input from as large a representation of interventionalists as possible to make sure the statement was universally useful, according to Dr. Kaufman, professor at the Dotter Interventional Institute, Oregon Health & Science University (Portland, OR, USA). "Every country will find that what they do is a little different, but the goal is a document backed by interventional radiology societies all over the world stating, "This is what constitutes the specialty of interventional radiology. We expect that the document will be translated and published widely throughout the world," said Dr. Kaufman.

The statement details that interventional radiologists have expertise in diagnostic imaging and radiation safety, in image-guided minimally invasive procedures and techniques as applied to multiple diseases and organs, in the evaluation and management of patients suitable for the image-guided interventions included in the scope of IR practice, and in continual invention and innovation of new techniques, devices, and procedures. The unified statement defines and identifies the common features of IR. It provides background and outlines common elements found in the specialty, including clinical practice and scope, training, certification, research, practice quality, and professionalism.

Interventional radiologists are responsible for much of the medical innovation and development of minimally invasive treatments that are commonplace today. IR treatments offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time than traditional surgery. Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They use X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, such as in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease internally. Today, interventional oncology is a growing specialty area of interventional radiology. Interventional radiologists can deliver treatments for cancer directly to the tumor without significant side effects or damage to nearby normal tissue.

Related Links:
Society of Interventional Radiology