LAUSR

For the past few decades, interventional radiologists have tirelessly applied their innovative spirit to create new treatment modalities in interventional oncology (IO), continuously improving minimally invasive, tumour-targeted percutaneous and arterial therapies to treat a wide range of malignancies. Supported by strong basic and clinical research, IO has therefore long moved from providing biopsies for diagnosis to offering therapies for the safe and effective treatment of primary and metastatic tumours, putting our daily practice on sound scientific ground. CIRSE is supporting IO with numerous initiatives, including its dedicated annual congress ECIO, the European Curriculum and Syllabus in IO, its various registries, the Standards of Quality Assurance in IO document, and the current creation of the International Accreditation System of Interventional Oncology Services (IASIOS). In addition, CVIR dedicated a supplement exclusively to IO topics in September 2019. Recognition of the various IO treatment modalities have picked up pace in recent years thanks to their wide acceptance in both the medical community and general population, largely based on the treatments being minimally-invasive, costeffective, ideally combined with systemic treatments or surgery, and leading to excellent quality of life outcomes. This change in the perception of what IO has to offer has led, among others, to the fruitful cooperation with more than 20 cancer societies for the creation of each of the three following guidelines of the European CanCer Organisation (ECCO); ECCO Essential Requirements for Quality Cancer Care: Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Adults and Bone Sarcoma. A critical review [1], ECCO essential requirements for quality cancer care: Melanoma [2], and ECCO Essential Requirements for Quality Cancer Care: Colorectal Cancer. A critical review [3]. ECCO defines its essential requirements for quality cancer care (ERQCC) as ‘‘explanations and descriptions of challenges, organisation and actions that are necessary to give high-quality care to patients who have a specific type of cancer’’ [2]. Compiled by European experts from the various fields involved in the diagnosis and treatment of each specific cancer type, these documents provide guidelines to give tumour boards and healthcare managers an overview of what is required to guarantee the optimal patient pathway.