Present Status of Musculoskeletal Radiology in Europe: International Survey by the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology.
Žiga Snoj, Timea Hebar, Luca Maria Sconfienza, Filip Maria H M Vanhoenacker, Maryam Shahabpour, Vladka Salapura, Amanda Isaac, Eleni Drakonaki, Yurii Vasilev, Jean-Luc Drape, Miraude Adriaensen, Klaus Friedrich, Giuseppe Guglielmi, Alberto Vieira, Hatice Tuba Sanal, Liisa Kerttula, Johan Castberg Hellund, Judit Nagy, Andreas Heuck, Matthieu Rutten, Maria Tzalonikou, Ulrich Hansen, Joanna Niemunis-Sawicka, Fabio Becce, Enzo Silvestri, Eva Llopis San Juan, Klaus Wörtler
Author Information
Žiga Snoj: Radiology Institute, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Timea Hebar: Radiology Institute, University Medical Centre Maribor, Slovenia.
Luca Maria Sconfienza: IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.
Filip Maria H M Vanhoenacker: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital and Antwerp University, Antwerp, Belgium.
Maryam Shahabpour: Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Vladka Salapura: Radiology Institute, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Amanda Isaac: Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
Eleni Drakonaki: Private Institution of Ultrasonography and MSK Radiology, Heraklion, Greece.
Yurii Vasilev: Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia.
Jean-Luc Drape: Department of Radiology, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
Miraude Adriaensen: Department of Medical Imaging, Zuyderland Medical Center, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, Brunssum, Kerkrade, The Netherlands.
Klaus Friedrich: Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Wien, Austria.
Giuseppe Guglielmi: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia University School of Medicine, Foggia, Italy.
Alberto Vieira: São João University Hospital, Porto Medical School - FMUP, Porto, Portugal.
Hatice Tuba Sanal: Department of Radiology, Health Sciences University, Gülhane Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
Liisa Kerttula: HUS Medical Imaging Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Johan Castberg Hellund: Clinic of Radiology and Nuclear medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Judit Nagy: Innomed Medical, Inc., Budapest, Hungary.
Andreas Heuck: Radiologisches Zentrum München Pasing RZM, Munich, Germany.
Matthieu Rutten: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Maria Tzalonikou: YGEIA Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Ulrich Hansen: Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Joanna Niemunis-Sawicka: 2nd Radiology Department, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Fabio Becce: Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Enzo Silvestri: Department of Radiology, Ospedale Evangelico Internazionale, Genoa, Italy.
Eva Llopis San Juan: Department of Radiology, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, Spain.
Klaus Wörtler: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
No official data exist on the status of musculoskeletal (MSK) radiology in Europe. The Committee for National Societies conducted an international survey to understand the status of training, subspecialization, and local practice among the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) partner societies. This article reports the results of that survey. An online questionnaire was distributed to all 26 European national associations that act as official partner societies of the ESSR. The 24 questions were subdivided into six sections: society structure, relationship with the national radiological society, subspecialization, present radiology practice, MSK interventional procedures, and MSK ultrasound. The findings of our study show a lack of standardized training and/or accreditation methods in the field of MSK radiology at a national level. The European diploma in musculoskeletal radiology is directed to partly overcome this problem; however, this certification is still underrecognized. Using certification methods, a more homogeneous European landscape could be created in the future with a view to subspecialist training. MSK ultrasound and MSK interventional procedures should be performed by a health professional with a solid knowledge of the relevant imaging modalities and sufficient training in MSK radiology. Recognition of MSK radiology as an official subspecialty would make the field more attractive for younger colleagues as well as attracting the brightest and best, an important key to further development of both clinical and academic radiology. KEY POINTS: · Standardized training and/or accreditation methods in the field of MSK radiology is lacking at a national level.. · With certification methods, such as the European diploma in musculoskeletal radiology, a more homogeneous European landscape could be created in the future with a view to subspecialist training.. · Recognition of MSK radiology as an official subspecialty would make the field more attractive for younger colleagues as well as attracting the brightest and best, an important key to further development of both clinical and academic radiology..
