Which stories resonated most with the interventional community in 2024? Explore our roundup of the most popular stories from Interventional News over the past year.
1. Uterine artery embolization shows “significant” successes in treating fibroid masses in the uterine cervix followed by the uterine fundus
Following her presentation on uterine artery embolization (UAE) for fibroids at the Global Embolisation Oncology Symposium Technologies (GEST; 16–19 May, New York, USA), Abeer AlDhawi (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), describes the “significant relief” that can be provided to patients through this minimally invasive procedure.
2. ‘A new narrative’: TACE in the age of Y90 and immunotherapy
Hotly debated across the Society of Interventional Oncology (SIO; 25–29 January 2024, Long Beach, USA) annual conference programme, speakers took to the stage to contest the survival of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the age of yttrium-90 (Y90) transarterial radioembolization (TARE) and immunotherapy, their compelling arguments making some audience members “more confused and others happy”.
3. Survey finds women with uterine fibroids offered hysterectomies over minimally invasive treatments
A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) has revealed that more than half (53%) of women diagnosed with uterine fibroids were primarily offered a hysterectomy. In contrast, fewer than 20% were presented with less invasive alternatives such as over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; 19%), uterine fibroid embolization (UFE; 17%), oral contraceptives (17%), and endometrial ablation (17%). Additionally, 17% of women surveyed “mistakenly” believe that hysterectomy is the only available treatment, a misconception held by over 27% of women aged 18–34.
4. EMBOLIZE pelvic venous disease study launched at SIR 2024
The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Foundation, The VIVA Foundation and Penumbra, today announced the launch of the EMBOLIZE trial, a first-of-its-kind prospective, randomised controlled trial studying the effects of ovarian vein embolization (OVE) and pelvic vein embolization in reducing pain in women experiencing chronic pelvic pain due to pelvic venous disease (PeVD).
5. Interventional radiology: A play in three acts
Andreas Adam, emeritus professor of interventional radiology at King’s College London, UK and joint editor-in-chief of Interventional News, describes his personal experience entering the field of interventional radiology.
6. Has interventional radiology reached its global tipping point?
In a new global statement, aimed to set forth the essential elements of interventional radiology (IR) and continuing challenges facing the specialty, the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe (CIRSE) and the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) query: Have we reached the tipping point?
7. Analysis of UK interventional radiology shows “major” discrepancy between workforce and service demand
An analysis of data collected on interventional radiology (IR) practice in the UK has shown an increasing trend in the number and complexity of procedures between 2017 and 2021, despite an imbalance in provision and demand of IR services, as well as a “striking” lack of records regarding safety and service-cost data.
8. Money-maker or meritable: Is renal denervation out of retirement?
In a paper published in the July 2024 issue of the Journal of Hypertension, Andrew Sharp (University Hospital of Wales and Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK) et al reviewed 16 randomised controlled trials to assess the evidence of renal denervation’s (RDN) efficacy, concluding that, in uncontrolled arterial hypertension, RDN leads to a consistent reduction in blood pressure.
9. Study finds GAE provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related knee pain
A minimally invasive procedure provides significant relief from knee pain and may prevent the need for knee replacement surgery in people with osteoarthritis, according to a study presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting (1–5 December, Chicago, USA).
10. Thrombectomy gold rush set to follow ATTRACT study, experts argue
At the recent Endo Vascular Access (EVA) meeting (14–15 June, Patras, Greece), Ziv Haskal (University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, USA) spoke to Timothy Clark (Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA) about what they referred to as the “gold rush” of thrombectomy devices for large-calibre blood vessels.
