Demystifying Interventional Radiology: A Guide for Medical Students

Demystifying Interventional Radiology: A Guide for Medical Students is an invaluable resource bridging the gap between current and desired knowledge of interventional radiology (IR) for many within health care. Its easy-to-read format, appropriately supplemented by figures, is an excellent aid for those trying to comprehend the expanding field of IR.

IR is a relatively new subspecialty with increasing importance in modern health care systems, providing improved diagnosis and treatment via image-guided, minimally invasive techniques, ultimately resulting in improved patient outcomes.[1] In recent years, progress within IR has increased at a faster rate than medical school curricula, leaving many medical students uninformed as to the workings within the IR suite.[2] This disparity extends to junior doctors too, who may be responsible for the ward-based care of IR patients and represent the future intake into IR training programs.[3] [4] There are currently limited educational resources addressing this knowledge gap and facilitating further expansion of IR. This book addresses the need for introductory resources to foster further learning in this field.

The book does not assume any prior IR knowledge and incorporates dot-points, figures, and tables into its laid out, easily comprehendible format. Early chapters deal with history, physics, radiation safety, equipment, and medications found in the IR suite before finishing with the techniques utilized by interventional radiologists ranging from biopsy and drainage to embolization and ablation. This “demystifies” the IR suite and equips readers with the necessary knowledge to understand the proceeding chapters detailing the specific procedures performed by interventional radiologists, organized by body system.

The chapters on specific procedures adopts a format well-suited to the clinical setting including indications and contraindications, pre/intra/postprocedural care, complications, outcomes, and existing evidence. This is particularly welcomed by junior doctors tasked with the ward-based management of IR patients.

“Interventional Radiology Outpatient Clinics” is a noteworthy chapter acknowledging the key role that IR plays in an evolving health care landscape and the importance of establishing IR as a standalone specialty akin to existing specialties. Other notable features of the book include chapter references encouraging further reading and discussion of deficiencies to be addressed in the state of current IR research.

Overall, Demystifying Interventional Radiology: A Guide for Medical Students is an excellent introductory resource for anyone, from the medical student to the senior doctor, seeking to extend their knowledge of IR. Its digestible approach and clinical focus is welcomed in a field devoid of introductory educational resources and is a step in the right direction to address the disparity between current and desired knowledge of IR.

Conflict of Interest

None.

• References

• 1 Doherty MG. Value of interventional radiology: past, present, and future. Semin Intervent Radiol 2019; 36 (01) 26-28
• 2 Foo M, Maingard J, Phan K. et al. Australian students’ perspective on interventional radiology education: a prospective cross-institutional study. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2018; 62 (06) 758-763
• 3 Foo M, Maingard J, Wang M, et al. Are junior doctors ready to support the uptake of interventional radiology? Paper presented at: 70th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Radiologists; October 19, 2019; Auckland, New Zealand
• 4 Foo M, Maingard J, Wang M, et al. Awareness about training and job requirements in interventional radiology—how much do junior doctors know? Paper presented at: 70th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Radiologists; October 19, 2019; Auckland, New Zealand

Publication History

Article published online:
11 January 2021