February 2006

The execution of a European Examination in Neuroradiology would be a project achieving legal status only if and when neuroradiology is approved as a medical speciality by UEMS. However, establishment of a voluntary examination, governed by the same rules as used in UEMS, would be a strong tool by which the standards of training in neuroradiology can be communicated throughout Europe.

At the present time, passing the European Examination in Neuroradiology would have no legal status. However the various parts of the examination can be used for different purposes and passing the full examination can be used as an unofficial stamp of quality, hopefully to be recognized by department heads in the future.

Attending a ECNR course and passing the written examination at the end, either after each course or all four together, will mean that this course can be used as a component in a university based Master of Neuroradiology. One such program exists in Stockholm at the Karolinska Institute, while others are being established.

The written examinations can of course also be used for self evaluation at the end of each course.

The following are the documents and rules set out by the Examination committee of EBNR:

Olof Flodmark, Chairman of EBNR & President of ESNR

Information on European Certificate in Neuroradiology


European Examination in Neuroradiology

Rules and Regulations for Examination

Master in Medical Science with Major in Neuroradiology

As of the fall term of 2003, a Master program in Medical Science with major in Neuroradiology, is in existence at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Only one similar program already exists since a few years in Barcelona.

With mounting competition and more or less aggressive tendencies from other neuroscience specialities, it has become increasingly important to establish neuroradiology as a medical speciality in its own right. However, neuroradiology is an integral part of radiology and the majority of neuroradiological studies in Europe are read by radiologists with or without additional training in neuroradiology. A minority of neuroradiology procedures, particularly those that are specialized and more complex are performed and interpreted by neuroradiologists, often based in academic practice in university hospitals. Recent advances in brain imaging, not only its anatomy and pathology but also of the brain in function, highlights the shortcomings in today's training of neuroradiologists. Optimal training of these neuroradiologists, future leaders and pathfinders within our speciality, is vital for the future of neuroradiology and thus all of neuroscience. Their training must be much broader based within neuroscience than is possible in the present system and it is vital to attract not only radiologists, but also neurologists, neurosurgeons and neurophysiologists.

The official European system regulating the requirements for practice certain specialities, UEMS, is aimed at guaranteeing access to medical care to citizens within EU but has little flexibility to answer to the ever changing needs of rapid development in certain areas when medical research and development provides new possibilities and open new possibilities. The academic establishment, represented by major universities and medical schools throughout Europe, is far better equipped to act quickly and to adjust its programmes to meet de ever changing demands within the fields of medical science and development. It is therefore quite logical that the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm is first in Europe in accepting any neuroscientist into a newly presented Master program in neuroradiology. It must be emphasized that this is a purely academic program, leading to an academic Master degree. Such an academic degree gives no right to the individual to practice neuroradiology as such licenses will be purely under the jurisdiction of each member country of EU, guided by UEMS. However, these rules are different in countries throughout Europe and can only in a longer perspective be influenced by academic degrees such as a Master in neuroradiology.

The Master program is built in one part around the European Course of Neuroradiology. This institution from 1984 when the first ECNR was given in Toulouse, has been redesigned to fit the needs for a Master degree, but also to comply with UEMS standards for medical specialities. The full cycle of ECNR now includes four one week courses, each over five days and concluded by a written examination. The topics have been changed to reflect the development of neuroradiology into a speciality more oriented to basic neuroscience as a base for clinical neuroradiology. Each week long course starts with literature studies and is followed by practical applications of newly acquired knowledge in clinical practice. These components of the Master can be completed in institutions approved by the university teaching the Master.

The second part of the program includes the authorship of a scientific report in the shape of a dissertation. This report will have to follow the format of a dissertation and be written under the guidance of a supervisor at the institution teaching the Master. The dissertation will be presented and defended in a public research seminar.

The total academic value of the Master program in neuroradiology is 40 credits (60 ECTS credits), equal to one year of full time studies. It is expected that the program can be completed within a period of two years, the common requirement for achieving speciality in neuroradiology where available as a sub-speciality of radiology.

It is the intention that similar programs, based on the same basic building blocs, will be instituted in a number of European universities, thus providing a choice for those students interested in acquiring a Master degree in neuroradiology.

The introduction of a Master program in Neuroradiology is a major step forward on the long process of establishing neuroradiology as a medical speciality in its own right but with a foundation in neuroscience as well as in radiology. It is our hope that this academic degree will be attractive to young European as well as non-European physicians training in neuroscience subjects as well as in radiology.

Olof Flodmark, M.D. Ph.D. FRCPC
Responsible for the Master program I neuroradiology at the Karolinska Institute

Reference:
Ruscalleda J: University Recognition of Neuroradiology: The Academic path.
International Journal of Neuroradiology (1998) 3:6 pp 457-459

For more information concerning the Master in Medical Science with Major in Neuroradiology, please contact Olof Flodmark via Olof.Flodmark@karolinska.se