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Integrating interventional radiology (IR) into clinical practice faces challenges in emerging countries in Asia and Africa. Overcoming them requires innovative solutions customized to local needs. After an in-depth gap analysis of these challenges, we began an organized skill development initiative in late 2015 offering radiologists and their supporting staff fully paid scholarships for IR training. Its concept, structure, and progress are reported here. This initiative covered 8 countries, IR specialists (n = 51), senior residents (n = 24), and 15 educational events (training institute [n = 3]; participating countries [n = 12]). This initiative is intended to develop a global network of trained personnel who can support IR programs in challenging locations of emerging countries.

Background: Survival in transfusion dependent thalassemia is closely linked to iron overload with severe cardiac iron causing heart failure. MRI guided chelation improves survival in high income countries. We explored the use of rapid MRI to guide therapy in a Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC), India, via locally organized thalassemia patient medical camps. Methods: Rapid cardiac MRI (rCMR) was implemented at two sites with clinical assessment and therapy recommendations based on rCMR findings. Investigations and clinical reassessment were repeated at 13 months. Findings: The baseline visit was attended by 103 patients, the second by 86. Average time of scanning was 10 minutes. At baseline 29% had a cardiac T2* = 17ms). At 13 months more patients were taking 2 oral chelators (21% to 37%, p

Non-invasive diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis may obviate the need for biopsy. The aim of our study was to determine the utility of identifying the type of nulling pattern on TI Scout sequence in diagnosis of cardiac amyloid infiltration. Materials and Methods-This retrospective observational study