Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiology (IR) is the use of medical imaging techniques to guide doctors as they diagnose and treat certain problems with blood vessels and lymph vessels throughout the body. IR is also called image-guided therapy.

Interventional radiology tests and treatments are done by interventional radiologists. These doctors are specially trained in anatomy and image guidance.

They treat kids who have lymphatic system and vascular (or circulatory) system disorders. These problems can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (starting after birth). Interventional radiologists use small specialized equipment and precise imaging to diagnose and treat these and many other disorders.

Doctors may send patients to an interventional radiologist for many different reasons. Most children who get IR have a tumor or a vascular problem that's treated with image-guided therapies instead of (or along with) traditional surgery or medical therapy.

IR also is done to help kids who have narrowing of their blood vessels or, more rarely, an aneurysm. If a child has a buildup of pus or fluid, IR might be done to safely place drainage tubes with a smaller procedure than open surgery. IR can also guide biopsies (getting small pieces of tissue to check under a microscope) when an unknown mass is found.

Interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who use imaging guidance, including X-ray, CT scanning and ultrasound, to help deliver minimally invasive, targeted treatments with a quicker recovery. IR addresses many of today’s toughest medical problems, including vascular conditions, many types of cancer and men’s and women’s health conditions with minimal discomfort and unprecedented precision. Interventional radiologists are the board-certified physicians who deliver these treatments.

Most IR treatments begin with the prick of a needle. The interventional radiologist—who is trained in image-guided, minimally invasive therapies—directs a thin wire and a catheter, the size of a strand of spaghetti, through a blood vessel treat the source of pain or disease. It may sound futuristic, but that’s exactly how some of the most innovative and effective treatments in medicine are happening today. Interventional radiology treatments often come with less risk, less pain, shorter recovery times and better outcomes than traditional (open) surgery.

Breakthroughs in technology and imaging have created new treatment choices for patients. In this new era of medicine, personalized medicine means doing the right thing for each patient. Ask your doctor about treatments that are less invasive. And, if you are a candidate for open surgery, consider getting a second opinion from an interventional radiologist. There may be a minimally invasive approach that could dramatically reduce your pain, risk and recovery time.

The use of radiation in diagnosing and treating patients has significantly advanced the field of medicine and saved or extended countless lives. As with any medical procedure, the use of radiation is not without risk. Interventional radiologists undergo extensive training in radiation safety and know how to mitigate the risks of radiation by following established federal guidelines. IRs make it a priority to minimize the amount of radiation necessary to complete the treatment.