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Interventional Radiology

What is Interventional Radiology?
Interventional radiologists are involved in the treatment of the patient, as well as the diagnosis of disease.  They treat an ever-widening range of conditions inside the body from outside the body by inserting various small instruments or tools, such as catheters or wires, with the use of various x-ray and imaging techniques (CT scanners, MRI scanners, and ultrasound scanners).  Interventional radiology offers an alternative to the surgical treatment of many conditions and can eliminate the need for hospitalization.

The interventional radiologist is a medical doctor who has completed four years of study in radiology.  The interventional radiologist is the eligible to take the exam given by the American Boards of Radiology. Following board certification, the interventional radiologist completes an interventional radiology fellowship training program. Today, there are about 4,000 interventional radiologists in the US, mainly practicing in academic medical centers and in larger community hospitals. Interventional radiologists work closely with other physicians and play an important role in the treatment of patients.
Southeastern Med currently provides interventional services from two radiologists.

What procedures do Interventional Radiologists perform?

Interventional radiologists perform a vast variety of procedures including:

• angiography - an x-ray of the arteries and veins to detect blockage or narrowing of the vessels.  In many cases, the interventional radiologist can treat the blockages, such as those occurring in the arteries in the legs or kidneys, by inserting a small stent which inflates and opens the vessel.  This procedure is called a balloon angioplasty
  
   
• needle biopsy - a small needle is inserted into the abnormal area in almost any part of the body, guided by imaging techniques, to obtain a tissue biopsy.  This type of biopsy can provide a diagnosis without surgical intervention.  An example of this procedure is called the needle breast biopsy.
  
  
• blood clot filters - a small filter is inserted into the body to catch and break up blood clots.
  
  
• injection of clot-lysing agents - clot-lysing agents are injected into the body to dissolve blood clots, thereby increasing flow to the heart or brain.