Interventional Radiology (IR) is the use of image-guided, minimally invasive technology by highly trained physicians, to treat patients with a variety of conditions, reducing or eliminating the need for open surgery.
IR is a combination of diagnostic and therapeutic arts; it uses state-of-the-art imaging technology to visualize and diagnose problems, and minimally invasive technology to “intervene” with precision, accuracy and effectiveness.
The techniques of IR have become an integral part of general surgery, vascular disease, cardiology, oncology, gynecology, urology, nephrology, neurology, ear/nose/throat and orthopedics. Interventional radiologists perform biopsies, drain diseased kidneys and livers, recannulate chronically occluded veins, perform cryoablation (freezing) or heating (radiofrequency energy) of tumors to destroy them, and treat benign uterine fibroids with embolization as an alternative to hysterectomy. Interventional radiologists treat vascular disorders, including peripheral artery disease, and deep vein thrombosis. They dissolve clots and repair vertebral stress fractures – all without open surgery.
Interventional Radiology Procedures Available
- Angiography/arteriography
- Angioplasty
- Coil occlusions of aneurysms
- Endovenous laser therapy
- Insertion and management of central venous and dialysis access line
- Kyphoplasty
- Nonvascular interventional procedures, including soft tissue biopsy, abscess and fluid drainage, gastrostomy, nephrostomy, biliary procedures, ablation of neoplasms and cysts, and ureteral stents
- Placement of catheter for tumor treatment
- Placement of inferior vena cava filter
- Therapeutic infusion of vasoactive agents
- Therapeutic vascular radiology, including balloon angioplasty, stent placement, atherectomy, intra-arterial and IV thrombolytic therapy, and embolization/ablation, including transarterial chemoembolization (excluding carotid and intracranial intervention)
- Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
- Uterine artery embolization for leiomyoma
- Venography and venous sampling
- Cerebral digital subtraction angiography
- Carotid stenting
- Extracranial endovascular procedures (e.g., epistaxis)
- Intra-arterial thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy