Interventional radiology is a rapidly growing area of medicine. Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments performed using imaging guidance.  These physicians use their expertise in reading X-rays, ultrasounds and other medical images to guide small instruments such as catheters (tubes that measure just a few millimeters in diameter) through the blood vessels or other pathways to treat disease through the skin. 

Interventional radiology procedures are an advance in medicine that replace open surgical procedures because these procedures are typically much less invasive and much less costly than traditional surgery. They are generally easier for the patient because they involve no large incisions, less risk, less pain and shorter recovery times. 

Some of the other advantages of interventional radiology are that most procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis or require only a short hospital stay, and general anesthesia usually is not required.

Angiography
An X-ray exam of the arteries and veins to diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problems; uses a catheter to enter the blood vessel and a contrast agent (X-ray dye) to make the artery or vein visible on the X-ray.

Balloon Angioplasty
Opens blocked or narrowed blood vessels by inserting a very small balloon into the vessel and inflating it. Used by interventional radiologists to unblock clogged arteries in the legs or arms (called peripheral vascular disease or PVD), kidneys, brain or elsewhere in the body.

Biliary Drainage and Stenting
Uses a stent (small mesh tube) to open up blocked ducts and allow bile to drain from the liver.

Central Venous Access - PORTS and PIC Lines
Insertion of a tube beneath the skin and into the blood vessels so that patients can receive medication or nutrients directly into the blood stream or so blood can be drawn.

Chemoembolization
Delivery of cancer-fighting agents directly to the site of a cancer tumor; currently being used mostly to treat cancers of the endocrine system, including melanoma and liver cancers.

Discography - Lumbar
A pre-surgical evaluation whereby contrast dye is injected into the disc for visualization.

Embolization
Delivery of clotting agents (coils, plastic particles, gel, foam, etc.) directly to an area that is bleeding or to block blood flow to a problem area, such as an aneurysm or a fibroid tumor in the uterus.

Gastrostomy Tube
Feeding tube inserted into the stomach for patients who are unable to take sufficient food by mouth.

Hemodialysis Access Maintenance
Use of angioplasty or thrombolysis to open blocked grafts for hemodialysis, which treats kidney failure.

IVC Filter Placement
A filter is placed in a vessel to prevent clots from traveling from the legs to the lungs.

Needle Biopsy
Diagnostic test for breast, lung and other cancers; an alternative to surgical biopsy.

Nephrostomy
Placement of a tube into the kidney to alleviate obstruction.

Stent
A small flexible tube made of plastic or wire mesh, used to treat a variety of medical conditions (e.g., to hold open clogged blood vessels or other pathways that have been narrowed or blocked by tumors or obstructions).

Stent - Graft
Reinforces a ruptured or ballooning section of an artery (an aneurysm) with a fabric-wrapped stent with a small, flexible mesh tube used to "patch" the blood vessel. Also known as an endograph.

Thrombolysis
Dissolves blood clots by injecting clot-busting drugs at the site of the clot.

TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt)
A life-saving procedure to improve blood flow and prevent hemorrhage in patients with severe liver dysfunction.

Uterine Artery Embolization
An embolization procedure of uterine arteries to stop life- threatening postpartum bleeding, potentially preventing hysterectomy. The same procedure is used to treat fibroid tumors and is then called UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization).

Uterine Fibroid Embolization
An embolization procedure of uterine arteries to shrink painful, enlarged, benign tumors in the uterus, also called UAE (Uterine Artery Embolization).

Vertebroplasty (Percutaneous Vertebroplasty)
A minimally-invasive procedure to treat vertebral compression fractures causing pain and spinal deformity.  X-ray guidance is used to accurately place acrylic bone cement into partially collapsed vertebra.  Hardened cement fills the spaces within the damaged bone, stabilizing the vertebral structure and relieving pain.