Current status of angiography and interventional radiology in Japan: survey results

Because the practice of interventional radiology in Japan seems very different from that in western countries, a survey was conducted to define practice patterns and the current position of radiologists in the field of vascular and interventional radiology in Japan.

During the spring of 1992, a questionnaire was mailed to all institutions to which members of the Japanese Society of Angiography and Interventional Radiology belong.

For abdominal, thoracic, and peripheral angiography, more than 50% of procedures were controlled by radiologists. The majority of abdominal embolotherapy (87%) and peripheral angioplasty (70%) procedures were performed by interventional radiologists. On the other hand, 64.3% of neurointerventions, 74% of abscess drainage, and 98% of coronary angioplasty procedures were performed by other specialists. In most institutions, embolotherapy for liver neoplasms was commonly performed by radiologists (97%). Peripheral and renal angioplasty and thrombolysis were performed by 74% of respondents, although less than 10 cases per year were encountered at 81% of institutions. Abscess drainage and biopsy were performed by radiologists in more than 50% of institutions. In other nonvascular interventional procedures, especially lithotripsy, the practice by and experiences of radiologists were very limited. Fifty-seven percent of radiology departments have beds allocated and radiologists serve as attending physicians for interventional purposes.

The practice pattern of interventional radiology in Japan is quite different from that in other countries because of differences in patients' diseases, historical backgrounds, number of interventional radiologists, and department organization.