Although RFA has been a standard treatment modality for liver tumors for many years, it is highly operator-dependent. RFA skills and outcomes are different from operator to operator, and from institution to institution.

 

　　Shuichiro Shiina MD, Juntendo University School of Medicine, which is the highest RFA volume center in Japan, introduced the RFA training program held by his institution, aiming to disseminate skills and know-how on RFA.

 

　　Each year, Juntendo University hosts six RFA training programs and each course can enroll 99 doctors. The programs are popular and the quotas are filled every time.

 

　　The 2-day program is composed of comprehensive lectures, live demonstrations and case studies. Content of the lectures include the current status of RFA, RFA devices, ultrasonography, and so on. The live demonstration includes presentation of three cases on whom RFA would be performed the following day and planned ultrasound examinations conducted by participants, outlined Dr. Shiina.

 

　　On the second day, the trainee has the opportunity to perform RFA on the three cases, using artificial ascites technique, contrast-enhanced ultrasound guidance and fusion imaging. In the case studies, around 12 difficult to ablate cases from participants’ hospitals are presented and discussed.

 

　　Through the intensive program, participants will be able to learn the current status of RFA. The questionnaire surveys after the program have revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback from the participants. Many participants remarked on the benefits of being directly trained by noted interventional oncologists in an academic environment where interaction between teachers and students and group discussions were encouraged.

 

　　In the future, the program will also hold a longer-term training program for up to two weeks. Additionally, the program has expanded to include an international training program for foreign doctors, with the first one held in December, 2015, according to Dr. Shiina.