Interventional Radiology
What is interventional radiology?
Interventional radiology is a specialized field of radiology where doctors perform minimally invasive surgical procedures with the assistance of imaging techniques.
Some of the imaging methods used in interventional radiology include:
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
- fluoroscopy
- ultrasound
- computed tomography (CT) scans
During a surgical procedure, interventional radiologists make small incisions, often in the abdomen, where needles and catheters are inserted. Using medical images, the surgeon can then guide their needle and/or catheter to the surgical site.
How does interventional radiology benefit healthcare?
Since interventional radiology allows surgeons to see the surgical site without having to create large incisions, it leads to less risky procedures with shorter and easier recoveries. In many cases, they are also more effective than their traditional surgery counterpart.
The cost of surgery with interventional radiology is also less than traditional surgery.
Some procedures completed with interventional radiology include:
- stenting
- angioplasty
- embolization
- biopsies
- thrombolysis
- radiofrequency ablation
- gastronomy tubes