Interventional Radiologists Gain Cancer-fighting Skills With New Y-90 Course

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Dec 17, 2013, 10:05 ET

Society of Interventional Radiology Offers Y-90: The Complete Course Feb. 6–9, 2014; Register Now to Build, Enhance Interventional Oncology Practice

FAIRFAX, Va., Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Society of Interventional Radiology's Y-90: The Complete Course features the most in-depth yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization curriculum available for interventional radiologists and trainees interested in initiating, developing or strengthening their practice in interventional oncology. The course, which will be held Feb. 6–9, 2014, in Scottsdale, Ariz., combines the best of two premier learning opportunities—Y-90/Authorized User (AU) and Y-90/Advanced—into a new, three-day course that includes lectures, panel discussions, case scenarios and hands-on workshops. The Advanced portion of the course is available as a stand-alone opportunity.

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"This course was created by interventional radiologists—highly trained physicians who use image-guided, minimally invasive techniques to treat a variety of disease states, " said Matthew S. Johnson, M.D., FSIR, course co-coordinator and professor of radiology and surgery and director of interventional oncology at Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. "Attendees will learn how interventional radiology is making inroads in the battle against primary liver cancer and other malignancies metastatic to the liver using yttrium-90 radioembolization as part of their multidisciplinary treatment program."

"Interventional oncology is the most rapidly evolving field in medicine today—even advanced practitioners need to keep current in order to offer their patients the very best in oncologic care," added Johnson.

Through Y-90: The Complete Course, attendees learn the tools and techniques necessary to build a successful Y-90 interventional oncology practice or to enhance an existing practice. In addition to providing valuable continuing medical education (CME) credits, the course fulfills the requirements needed to qualify to apply for Authorized User (AU) status. The Advanced portion can help those with AU status to strengthen and grow an existing practice.

During the unique "Challenge the Experts" segment, attendees will interact with Y-90 experts during anatomy discussions that will center on the most commonly encountered disease conditions, including liver, colorectal, neuroendocrine, breast and bile duct cancer, melanoma and more. They may also prepare their own Y-90 case and present to the experienced facilitators for further discussion. Additional advanced topics will include radioembolization in combination with other therapies—retreatment, post-procedural care and follow-up and management of complications.

Y-90: The Complete Course will be held Feb. 6–9, 2014, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Ariz. For hotel reservations, please call 1 (800) 344-4758 and reference the "SIR Y-90 Oncology Meeting." The hotel reservation deadline is Jan. 5, 2014. Visit the course website for more information or to register, or phone (703) 691-1805. The early rate deadline is January 5, 2014.

More information about the Society of Interventional Radiology, interventional radiologists and how to find an interventional radiologist in your area is online.

About the Society of Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available coupled with diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use X-ray, MRI and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, such as in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease internally. As the inventors of angioplasty and the catheter-delivered stent, which were first used in the legs to treat peripheral arterial disease, interventional radiologists pioneered minimally invasive modern medicine. Today, interventional oncology is a growing specialty area of interventional radiology. Interventional radiologists can deliver treatments for cancer directly to the tumor without significant side effects or damage to nearby normal tissue.

Many conditions that once required surgery can be treated less invasively by interventional radiologists. Interventional radiology treatments offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. Visit www.SIRweb.org.

SOURCE Society of Interventional Radiology