MRI-Guided Cryoablation of In-Transit Metastases from Cutaneous Melanoma: A Brief Report on a Preliminary Experience

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology - This study aims to discuss MRI-guided cryoablation (CA) of in-transit (IT) metastases from melanoma and to retrospectively present our preliminary...     

The Introduction of an Undergraduate Interventional Radiology (IR) Curriculum: Impact on Medical Student Knowledge and Interest in IR

Introduction

Interventional radiology (IR) plays a vital role in modern medicine, with increasing demand for services, but with a shortage of experienced interventionalists. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of a recently introduced IR curriculum on perception, knowledge, and interest of medical students regarding various aspects of IR.

Methods

In 2014, an anonymous web-based questionnaire was sent to 309 4th year medical students in a single institution within an EU country, both before and after delivery of a 10-h IR teaching curriculum.

Results

Seventy-six percent (236/309) of the respondents participated in the pre-IR module survey, while 50 % (157/309) responded to the post-IR module survey. While 62 % (147/236) of the respondents reported poor or no knowledge of IR compared to other medical disciplines in the pre-IR module survey, this decreased to 17 % (27/157) in the post-IR module survey. The correct responses regarding knowledge of selected IR procedures improved from 70 to 94 % for venous access, 78 to 99 % for uterine fibroid embolization, 75 to 97 % for GI bleeding embolization, 60 to 92 % for trauma embolization, 71 to 92 % for tumor ablation, and 81 to 94 % for angioplasty and stenting in peripheral arterial disease. With regard to knowledge of IR clinical roles, responses improved from 42 to 59 % for outpatient clinic review of patients and having inpatient beds, 63–76 % for direct patient consultation, and 43–60 % for having regular ward rounds. The number of students who would consider a career in IR increased from 60 to 73 %.

Conclusion

Delivering an undergraduate IR curriculum increased the knowledge and understanding of various aspects of IR and also the general enthusiasm for pursuing this specialty as a future career choice.

     

Performance of a New Blunt-Tip Coaxial Needle for Percutaneous Biopsy and Drainage of “Hard-To-Reach” Targets

Aim

To present a new blunt-tip coaxial needle (SoftGuard) applied to access “hard-to-reach” targets undergoing percutaneous image-guided biopsy or drainage.

Materials and Methods

All consecutive patients presenting between August and December 2016 with “hard-to-reach” (<10 mm from a critical nearby structure such as vessels, nerves, bowel or adjacent parenchymal organs) solid lesions requiring biopsy (group A) or abscesses requiring drainage for sepsis (group B) were prospectively included. The individual features of each patient and lesion as well as technical and clinical data were collected and analysed.

Results

Twenty-six patients (18 males, 8 females, mean age 59.81 ± 17.53 years) were enrolled in group A and nine (6 males, 3 females, mean age 58.33 ± 13.8 years) in group B. Technical success was achieved in 92.3% of cases from group A and 100% of cases from group B. Five (19.2%) minor complications were noted in group A (four small self-limiting pneumothoraces and one small self-limiting peri-pancreatic haematoma). There were no complications in group B. Histological results in group A accounted for 95% sensitivity, 100% specificity and 95.2% diagnostic accuracy. In group B, mean post-operative C-reactive protein was 41 ± 48.3 mg/L in comparison with 155 ± 117.5 mg/L at baseline (P = 0.004).

Conclusions

The SoftGuard blunt-tip needle is a safe and effective tool when applied as a coaxial working cannula for percutaneous biopsy or drainage of “hard-to-reach” targets.