16/05/2025
I recently attended the Asia Pacific Congress (APSCVIR) for interventional radiology and I was amazed at the number of passionate and innovate specialists working across Asia Pacific.
I gave a lecture on my recent work with liver directed therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocacinoma (which I think is a neglected area for potential good) and attended as an APSCVIR executive member in meetings and ceremonies.
I also chaired a session on embolisation techniques and it was cool to see the extended utilisation of cyanoacrylate glues which offer unique possibilties (though require extra attention to potential risks) and the continued advancement of MSK and prostate embolization.
One idea I floated (with the Asia Pacific and European leaders) was the creation of "days" to help raise awareness about IR solutions - a "world embolisation day", "world tumour ablation day" and of course "world interventional radiology day" - This is something which IRs could unite behind to share about the value of these approaches for patients and referring docs.
It turns out that Brazil beat me to the punch last year on the IR day creation which is great and is being considered by CIRSE but I think it would be possible for the IR societies worldwide (ASPCVIR, CIRSE and SIR) - and of course IRSA - to agree on this so that we can let all the IRs know to get behind the effort on the day as individual advocates into their communities.
