| Interventional radiology (IR) refers to the special | | | | can insert a small stent to inflate and open the |
| practices performed under the minimally invasive | | | | blocked vessels. |
| treatment procedure. It uses image guidance | | | | Balloon angioplasty/stent- here doctor uses a |
| technology to find more precision in the | | | | small balloon on the tip of the catheter to widen |
| treatment. Such images are considered to direct | | | | the narrowed vessel. |
| the treatment procedure that may include the | | | | Embolization- it includes the insertion process of a |
| use of needle or other tiny instruments like small | | | | substance through a catheter into the blood |
| tubes or catheters. So the interventional | | | | vessel to check hemorrhaging, or excessive |
| radiologist can find a lager assistant to direct | | | | bleeding. |
| these instruments through the body to the area | | | | Chemoembolization- under this method, the |
| of damaged parts. This particular technique has | | | | treatment is directly given to a tumor through its |
| really proved to be helpful to diagnose some of | | | | blood supply. It uses clot-inducing substance to |
| the most perilous diseases including cancer. Its | | | | check blood flow in the artery. |
| methods are done purely for diagnostic purposes | | | | Needle biopsy- here a small needle is inserted into |
| per se angiogram. | | | | the damaged part of the body, guided by imaging |
| The IR technique uses some common | | | | techniques. Such biopsy can be performed without |
| interventional modalities like fluoroscopy, magnetic | | | | surgical intervention. |
| resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography | | | | Catheters insertions- in this process a catheter is |
| (CT), ultrasound scanner. Fluoroscopy and CT use | | | | inserted into large vein for delivering |
| ionizing radiation to find fast and geometrically | | | | chemotherapy drugs, nutritional support, and |
| accurate treatment. MRI technique is also capable | | | | hemodialysis. The catheters can be divided into |
| to provide superior tissue contrast, but it requires | | | | five types, such as diagnostic angiographic |
| a specialized instrument, therefore it is a little | | | | catheters, micro catheters, drainage catheters, |
| expansive for the patients. | | | | balloon catheters, central venous catheters. |
| There are some common procedures for which | | | | The radiology treatment needs a team of well |
| interventional radiology techniques is performed. | | | | qualified physicians deliver more precision in the |
| Some of the procedures are as- | | | | interventional radiological treatment procedures. So |
| Angiography- it is the X-ray imaging of blood | | | | that the fatal diseases like cancer can be cured |
| vessels to identify blockage or narrowing of the | | | | successfully. |
| vessels. With the help of IR images, physicians | | | | |