Imaging: New Frontiers in Vascular Training

Advances in medical imaging have redefined the practice of vascular surgery. Current training programs for vascular surgery do not incorporate formal training in vascular imaging other than in duplex ultrasound when a physician is undergoing the vascular interpretation certification process. Yet imaging modalities and techniques have grown exponentially in the adjacent fields of interventional radiology, interventional and diagnostic cardiology, and neuroradiology, so much so that advanced imaging fellowships have been established in these fields. This article reviews the current state of vascular imaging training, identifies gaps in the current training regimen, and proposes an advanced vascular imaging fellowship for the future.