Society of Interventional Radiology Celebrates International Day of Radiology
On Nov. 8, the Society of Interventional Radiology will celebrate the second International Day of Radiology (IDoR 2013) with the American College of Radiology (ACR), the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and the European Society of Radiology (ESR) and radiological societies the world over. This second annual event marks the 118th anniversary of Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen’s discovery of the X-ray in 1895.
SIR is one of more than 110 medical societies in 57 countries participating in IDoR. The International Day of Radiology is building greater awareness of the value that radiology research, diagnosis and treatment contribute to safe patient care and better understanding of the vital role radiologists perform in health care delivery.
IDoR 2013 will focus on the important role lung imaging plays in the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases—including the advent of computed tomography (CT) lung cancer screening. IDoR also recognizes the many innovations in radiology research that have revolutionized modern medicine, produced great technological leaps, enabled more effective and efficient care and saved countless lives. Moreover, modern medical technology provides people with less invasive methods of early cancer detection. The breast cancer death rate in the United States has dropped more than 30 percent since mammography use became widespread in 1990. In other countries where mammography screening programs are more organized and widespread, breast cancer deaths have nearly been cut in half.
Medical imaging is one of the top 10 medical advances of the past 1,000 years, and radiologists and radiologic scientists have produced major life-saving advances over the past century. Medical imaging and radiation therapy have improved patient health care and medical outcomes by providing patients with state-of-the-art cancer screening and disease diagnosis and less invasive medical treatments and therapies. Imaging scans have virtually eliminated exploratory surgeries, reduced unnecessary hospital admissions and often shortened hospital stays. The International Day of Radiology celebrates not only these past achievements, but also the ongoing radiologic research that is working toward new technological advances to benefit all—now and in the future.
Available Resources
- View the Congressional Statement on International Day of Radiology.
- Breathe easy: How radiology helps to find and fight lung diseases.
- Read SIR's statements on radiation safety.
- See the complete list of SIR's safety guidelines.
- Visit the International Day of Radiology's Facebook Page.
- View and share the IDoR 2013 video.
- The booklet, "The Story of Radiology," notes Swedish radiologist Sven Ivar Seldinger's groundbreaking work in angiography and catheterization techniques that became the foundation for the eventual growth of interventional radiology.
- Learn about radiology's role in cancer detection and treatments in “Making Cancer Visible: the Role of Imaging in Oncology.” This publication includes highlights on the contributions interventional radiology has made to the field with minimally invasive cancer treatments that have helped to widen the range of cancer treatment options.
SIR members: Please take advantage of the online promotional toolkit by visiting http://www.RSNA.org/IDoR2013. These tools include a customizable logo, press release, ads and more for use in your communications efforts.
###
About the Society of Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available coupled with diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use X-ray, MRI and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, such as in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease internally. As the inventors of angioplasty and the catheter-delivered stent, which were first used in the legs to treat peripheral arterial disease, interventional radiologists pioneered minimally invasive modern medicine. Today, interventional oncology is a growing specialty area of interventional radiology. Interventional radiologists can deliver treatments for cancer directly to the tumor without significant side effects or damage to nearby normal tissue.
Many conditions that once required surgery can be treated less invasively by interventional radiologists. Interventional radiology treatments offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. This year, SIR celebrates 40 years of innovation and advances in interventional radiology. Visit www.SIRweb.org
Local interviews and medical illustrations are available by contacting SIR’s communications department staff: Ellen Acconcia, SIR communications manager/practice areas, eacconcia@SIRweb.org, (703) 460-5582, or Maryann Verrillo, SIR director of communications and public relations, mverrillo@SIRweb.org, (703) 460-5572.
Tags:
