Should interventional radiology gain speciality status within the royal college of radiologists?

Abstract

Interventional Radiology (IR) medicine’s best kept secret will revolutionise healthcare like never before. The legacy Charles Dotter left behind not only showcases IR’s pursuit of innovative and complex techniques in order to provide better treatment options for patients, it also sparked an opportunity for radiologists to use their imagination and creativity to develop IR into a speciality catering for the 21st century. By utilising imaging as well as clinical and minimal invasive surgical knowledge IRs are able to play an integral role in caring for patients in nearly all specialities. Over the past few decades, the absence of radiology in the leadership management arena has allowed other specialities to perpetuate turf wars and utilise techniques developed by IR. A concerted effort is required by the wider radiology community to address the problems faced by IR and to recognise its true potential as a speciality to further improve patient care.