INDIAN SOCIETY OF NEURORADIOLOGY
                            Regd. No:781/99-2000

History & Growth Of Neuroradiology In The Last Decade

The specialty of Neuroradiology has shown spectacular growth in the country in the last 10 years, establishing its merit as a sub-specialty deserving a unique status among the different neurological sciences. This is largely due to the endeavors of individuals and institutions in the country to international standards but also to ensure a sustained growth of the discipline. This has been achieved by improving the technological platform of neuroimaging to the expertise and knowledge of neurointervention. The number of diagnostic and therapeutic neuroradiologists have increased in all parts of India, with almost all major institutions and diagnostic centres in India engaged in the practice of neuroradiology. It was only a matter of time that separate chairs and departments of neuroradiology were created in some major institutions in the country. Some of the larger centres practicing Neuroradiology in the northern of the country include All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences, New Delhi; Army Hospital, New Delhi; Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute; Lucknow and in the East, Institute of Neurological Sciences; Gujarat. Some of the centres in the west include the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh; KEM Hospital Mumbai; Jaslok Hospital Mumbai; Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai; Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai; JJ Hospitals, Mumbai; Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai; Tata Memorial Hospital. Mumbai. Some centres in the southern part of the country include the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvnanthapuram; the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore; Manipal Hospital, Bangalore; Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore; Bernard Institute of Radiology, Chennai; Apollo Hospital, Chennai; Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad. 

The technological progress in India has been in consonance with the rest of the world. All the major centres are currently equipped with high profile imaging facilities like super-conducting magnets and spiral scanners. This has enabled these centres to work at a cutting level of technology and research.

In addition to neuroimaging, interventional neuroradiology has also grown leaps and bounds. All the major centres in the country are currently engaged in endovascular management of various vascular anomalies of the head & neck including the brain and the spinal cord like arterial-venous malformations and fistulae. Coiling of aneurysms has become a part of routine clinical practice in many centres of India. Stroke management is becoming increasingly recognized with many centres already having an interventional neuroradiologist as a pert of acute stroke management teams. 

The true growth of the specialty cannot be more truly reflected than by the fat that there are already three centres in the country running a three year super specialty post graduate DM programme in neuroradiology. These include Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, NIMHAS, National Institute of MentalT Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi which would facilitate the systematic growth of neuroradiology in the country. This is in addition to the courses in neuroimaging technology being provided for radiation technologists in many centres of the country. 

The need for a separate society of neuroradiologists in the country was felt a few years back. It was soon resolved to form an Indian Society of NeuroRadiology (ISNR). This Society was formed with the broad objective of providing a platform for exchange of knowledge and sharing of experiences for those interested in the specialty of neuroimaging and interventional neuroradiology. Hence the Indian Society of Neuroradiology was formally formed in the year 1999.  The society has grown at a rapid pace and there are now 34 members. The society has now become a member of World Federation of Neuroradiology and is in the process of becoming a member of the Asian Oceanic Society of Neuroradiological and Head and neck Radiology.