Interventional Radiology

Interventional Radiology at Wellstar

Interventional radiology, also known as image-guided surgery, refers to medical procedures performed using image guidance devices such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), x-rays and ultrasound. Surgical procedures are directed using images, which are obtained with needles and catheters (narrow tubes) through the veins to the disease site.

Interventional radiology is used to diagnose or treat disease, with the advantage of being far less invasive than traditional surgery. Instead of a large incision, IR requires a few small incisions, significantly reducing risk of infection, recovery times and hospital stays.

Procedures

• Ablation, the surgical removal of a body part or tissue, such as a cancerous tumor, without harming the surrounding tissue.
• Catheter-directed thrombolysis, a procedure used to clear blood clots.
• Chemoembolization
• Cryoablation
• Embolization, the process of blocking the flow of blood in selected arteries to stop hemorrhaging or to block the blood supply to a tumor.
• Immunotherapy
• Microwave ablation
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Selective internal radiation

These procedures can benefit patients by targeting and downsizing cancer. Interventional radiologists can also help patients manage pain caused by cancer.

Patients who have not responded well to other treatments in a variety of fields can benefit from minimally invasive interventional radiology procedures, including:

• Cyst drainages
• Remove fluid from the lungs (thoracentesis)
• Inject joints for pain relief
• Insert nephrostomy tubes to drain urine
• Place gastrostomy (feeding) tubes
• Place biliary drains
• Perform bleed embolization to close off blood supply to a tumor or to treat aneurysms