The voice of medical imaging and clinical oncology

Creating a sustainable interventional oncology service for the future

Helen Hoi Lam Ng interventional oncology Tze Min Wah Vinson Wai-Shun Chan

Interventional oncology (IO) has long established itself to be the fourth pillar of cancer care, along with medical, surgical and radiation therapies. With emphasis on minimally invasive cancer treatment, IO uses image guidance to treat patients with cancer using a range of innovative medical technologies and is recommended by The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR). […]Interventional oncology (IO) has long established itself to be the fourth pillar of cancer care, along with medical, surgical and radiation therapies. With emphasis on minimally invasive cancer treatment, IO uses image guidance to treat patients with cancer using a range of innovative medical technologies and is recommended by The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR). Diverse methods are used to destroy tumours, including embolisation and ablations with different energies. With the continuous development of modern technologies, the extent to which IO is used will inevitably expand. Moreover, with an increasing cancer incidence worldwide, the IO workforce is key in continuing to drive IO forward. Yet, there remains a shortage of interventional radiologists (IR), let alone interventional oncologists. A survey by Interventional Oncology UK (IOUK) in 2017 revealed the provision of IO services throughout UK to be unevenly spread, and only 11% of interviewed trusts had an established IO lead. IOUK is a special interest group within the British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR). The Clinical Radiology UK Workforce Census 2022 also expressed concerns as only 48% of the UK are deemed to have adequate IR service, resulting in the possibility of risk to patient safety.

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