SIR Issues Global Definition of Specialty

July 7, 2010—The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) announced that it has issued the first global statement defining interventional radiology. Designed to benefit medical treatment for individuals, the statement addresses the evolution, impact, and future direction of the specialty and emphasizes the worldwide availability of this medical modality to treat major health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular and venous disease, spine fractures, stroke, and uterine fibroids. The statement is being copublished in the August issue of SIR's Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology and in CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, the journal of the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE). Along with SIR, the final statement is endorsed by CIRSE and numerous national interventional radiology societies.

The “Global Statement Defining Interventional Radiology," which is intentionally brief, 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 image-guided interventions included in the scope of interventional radiology practice, and in continual invention and innovation of new techniques, devices, and procedures. The unified statement defines and identifies the common features of interventional radiology. It provides background and outlines common elements found in the specialty, including clinical practice and scope, training, certification, research, practice quality, and professionalism.

“Until now, there has been no single document—no blueprint—defining interventional radiology that has had broad international support,” commented SIR President James F. Benenati, MD, FSIR. “It was time for interventional radiology to organize itself, worldwide, as a single family.”

Dr. Benenati explained that in the United States, interventional radiology is a recognized subspecialty with its own board certification examination, and interventional radiology is defined by its strong tradition 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.

The statement puts into writing the basic elements of interventional radiology that apply to interventional radiologists anywhere in the world. It stresses that interventional radiologists “provide patient evaluation and management relevant to image-guided interventions in collaboration with other physicians or independently.” The collaborative statement evolved over 2 years, with input from interventional radiologists from around the world.

“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,'” noted John A. Kaufman, MD, FSIR, FCIRSE, who originated the development of the statement during his tenure as SIR president. “We expect that the document will be translated and published widely throughout the world.”