Despite its many benefits, interventional radiology has faced several challenges in recent years, including a lack of recognition and understanding among both patients and healthcare professionals. One significant contributing factor to this lack of recognition is the name itself, which many people find confusing and unfamiliar.

 

To address this issue, there has been a growing movement among interventional radiologists to change the name of their specialty to something more descriptive and accessible. Some suggestions for a new name include "image-guided medicine," "minimally invasive radiology," "interventional medicine," or even the worst one “endovascular surgery.”

 

The necessity of changing the name of interventional radiology is clear for several reasons. First, a more descriptive and familiar name would help patients better understand the role of interventional radiologists and the services they provide. This, in turn, would increase patient trust and confidence in the specialty, leading to better outcomes and higher satisfaction.

 

Second, a more descriptive and familiar name would also help healthcare professionals better understand the scope and capabilities of interventional radiology. This would improve collaboration and coordination within the healthcare system, leading to more efficient and effective care.

 

Finally, a more descriptive and familiar name would also help interventional radiology gain the recognition and respect it deserves within the medical community. By clearly communicating the value and impact of the specialty, interventional radiologists can help raise awareness and support for their work.

 

This has happened previously in another field of medicine. The word "surgery" has its origins in the Latin word "chirurgia," which means "hand work." This word was derived from the Greek word "cheir," which means "hand," and "ergon," which means "work." The Greek word "cheirurgia" was used to refer to the art of healing using the hands. The term "surgery" was first used in the English language in the 14th century to refer to a branch of medicine that involves the treatment of injuries, deformities, and diseases using manual techniques, such as incisions and sutures. Today, the word "surgery" is used to refer to a wide range of medical procedures that involve the use of instruments and other technologies to diagnose, treat, and prevent a variety of medical conditions.

 

I suggest the new word “ikodiology” as a replacement for the current term "interventional radiology." This word is a combination of "Εικόνα" (ikónа), which means "image," "Οδηγία" (odigía), which means "guidance," and the suffix "-logia" which is often used in English to form the names of scientific or technical fields of study.

 

The word "ikodiology" perfectly captures the essence of this rapidly evolving medical specialty, which uses advanced imaging technologies to guide minimally invasive suave procedures. The word "ikodiology" is easy to remember and pronounce, and it rolls off the tongue with a smooth and sophisticated sound, much like the procedures performed by interventional radiologists. Overall, I believe that "ikodiology" would be a much more effective and appealing name for this important and highly skilled medical specialty.

 

In conclusion, the necessity of changing the name of interventional radiology is clear. By adopting a more descriptive and familiar name, interventional radiologists can improve patient understanding and trust, improve collaboration and coordination within the healthcare system, and gain the recognition and respect they deserve within the medical community.