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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Ultrasound Int Open 2022; 08(01): E29-E34
DOI: 10.1055/a-1922-6778
Original Article

Head and Neck Ultrasound – EFSUMB Training Recommendations for the Practice of Medical Ultrasound in Europe

Tobias Todsen 
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
2   Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation, University of Copenhagen, and The Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
3   Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
,
Caroline Ewertsen
3   Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
4   Department of Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
,
Christian Jenssen 
5   Department of Internal Medicine, Krankenhaus Märkisch Oderland GmbH, Strausberg, Germany
6   Brandenburg Institute for Clinical Ultrasound, Medical University Brandenburg, Neuruppin, Germany
,
Rhodri Evans
7   Department of Radiology, Withybush General Hospital, Swansea, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Julian Kuenzel
8   Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Abstract

Different surgical and medical specialists increasingly use head and neck ultrasound and ultrasound-guided interventions as part of their clinical practice. We need to ensure high quality and standardized practice across specialties, and this position paper of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) describes the training requirements for head and neck ultrasound. Traditionally, a minimum number of ultrasound examinations indicates competence, but this is unreliable, and a general shift towards competence-based training is ongoing. For each EFSUMB level, we will outline the theoretical knowledge and skills needed for clinical practice. The recommendations follow the three EFSUMB competency levels for medical ultrasound practice. Level 1 describes the skills required to perform essential head and neck ultrasound examinations independently, level 2 includes ultrasound-guided interventions, while level 3 involves the practice of high-level neck ultrasound and use of advanced technologies. Our goal is to ensure high quality and standardized head and neck ultrasound practice performed by different clinical specialists with these recommendations.

Key words

head/neck - ultrasound - education - training - competency - thyroid - interventions


Publication History

Received: 23 March 2022

Accepted: 27 July 2022

Article published online:
07 October 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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