In a paper titled ‘Specialist awareness of interventional radiology: Current state of affairs and opportunities for improvement’, Mina S Makary (Columbus, USA) and his team surveyed specialist provider understanding of interventional radiology (IR) at their tertiary centre, which yielded unanticipated results. Here, he discusses the data they collected and their broader significance for the evolution of the specialty.
Our recent survey has revealed significant gaps in awareness and understanding of IR among specialist providers, raising concerns about missed opportunities for minimally invasive care. The study, conducted at a large academic medical centre, surveyed over 1,400 non-primary care specialists and received 516 responses. While IR continues to expand its scope across oncology, urology and women’s health, the findings show that many medical professionals remain unaware of the specialty’s full range of applications.
Nearly 60% of surveyed specialists rated their knowledge of IR as only ‘adequate’ or ‘poor’—a result we did not anticipate. When asked how frequently they offered IR procedures as alternatives to surgery, 20% admitted they never did. Conditions like abscesses and haemorrhages were commonly linked to IR, but recognition dropped significantly for areas such as infertility, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and bone cancer—indications where IR can play a critical role.
Advanced practice providers (APPs) demonstrated lower overall awareness than physicians but showed a stronger interest in learning more about IR services. In fact, 75% of APPs expressed a desire to improve their knowledge, positioning them as a key audience for targeted educational efforts.
Interestingly, the study found no significant difference in IR familiarity between surgical and non-surgical specialties, despite the procedural alignment between surgery and interventional radiology. Among specialist physicians, early-career practitioners—interns, residents and junior attendings—were less likely to report high confidence in their understanding of IR.
The results highlight an ongoing need to integrate IR education into medical training and continuing professional development. Previous efforts—such as presentations at specialty conferences— have been shown to effectively raise awareness, but the study suggests broader strategies may be necessary.
The findings carry clear implications for patient care. Without broader specialist recognition of IR’s expanding capabilities, patients may miss out on less invasive, lower-risk therapeutic options. Bridging the knowledge gap through structured education and interdisciplinary collaboration could significantly improve referral patterns and treatment outcomes.
As IR continues to innovate across multiple domains, its visibility within the wider medical community must keep pace. This study offers a timely reminder that increasing awareness is not just a professional courtesy—it’s a clinical necessity.
Mina S Makary is an interventional radiologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, USA.
