So you want to be... an interventional radiologist.

Radiology has undergone a huge change since the discovery of X-rays just over 100 years ago, and in the field of interventional radiology there has been an almost exponential rise in the procedures performed over the last two decades. Interventional radiology allows imaging (fluoroscopy, computed tomography and ultrasound) to guide the manipulation of instruments placed through blood vessels or percutaneously in order to carry out treatment. Because it does not require major incisions it allows the treatment of patients who may not be fit for open surgery.

So you want to be ... a maxillofacial surgeon.

Maxillofacial surgery (or to give the speciality its full title oral and maxillofacial surgery) has long had a veil of mystery associated with it. Maxillofacial surgical trainees were seen as a rare breed of people who did a dental degree followed by a medical degree before embarking on their surgical training. However, changes have been afoot for several years and there are now increasing numbers of people in the speciality whose primary qualification is medicine with a secondary degree in dentistry.

Experience versus complication rate in third molar surgery.

Objectives: The records of 1087 patients who underwent surgical removal of third molar teeth were prospectively examined to analyse the possible relationship between postoperative complications and the surgeon's experience parameter.

Method And Materials: Seven surgeons (three specialists in surgical dentistry [specialists SD] and four oral and maxillofacial Senior House Officers [OMFS residents]) carried out the surgical procedures. For each patient, several variables were recorded including age, gender, radiographic position of extracted teeth, treating surgeon, duration of surgery and postoperative complications.