Expanding Treatment Possibilities in Oncology: Exploring the Impact of Interventional Radiology

In partnership with Boston Scientific, the Medical Education Network presents an in-depth look at how Interventional Radiology is reshaping oncology care. Join Dr Gareth Bydawell and Dr Dale Creamer as they explore the expanding toolkit of image-guided, minimally invasive therapies available to the multidisciplinary cancer team — from thermal ablation and embolisation to targeted drug delivery.

This session covers the evidence base for IR procedures across tumour types, practical guidance on patient selection, and how IR integrates with surgery, medical oncology, and radiation therapy. Particular focus is given to locoregional therapies in hepatic malignancies, lung tumours, and bone metastases, as well as the role of IR in vascular access and palliative care.

• Understand the range of IR procedures available in oncology, including radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation, and embolisation, and the tumour types for which each is most appropriate.
• Review patient selection criteria for locoregional IR therapies in hepatic malignancies, including primary liver cancer and colorectal metastases, and understand how staging and liver function influence decision-making.
• Explore the role of IR in lung tumour ablation, bone metastasis management, and palliative interventions, including the evidence base and expected outcomes.
• Identify how IR integrates into the multidisciplinary oncology team in South Africa, including referral pathways, pre-procedural planning, and post-procedural follow-up.
• Recognise the role of IR in vascular access for chemotherapy delivery and in managing oncology-related complications such as bleeding, obstruction, and effusion.