he general perception is that radiologists only make diagnosis and are not actually involved in treating disease. However, interventional radiology provides treatment of certain diseases without the need for operation. Interventional radiology plays a role in almost all disciplines of modern medicine. Modifications of various techniques used in interventional radiology have now extended to other areas of medicine (including surgery and other surgical disciplines) and is called minimally invasive therapy. 

Interventional radiology offers a more economical, faster and safer way of treating disease without the need for major surgery. It is more economical as it reduces the need for long hospital stay and may actually eliminate it. Cost for the operation will be avoided. It is safer as the risks and complications of a major surgery and general anaesthesia is avoided, especially so in ill patients. Recovery period is shortened and complications during recovery will also be reduced. 

By using the various types of imaging methods for guidance and special needles, wires, tubes and catheters of various shapes and sizes, radiologists are now able to treat disease in the body by going through the body’s blood vessels or other routes. Therefore, these procedures are done in the radiology department and not in the operating theatre. These procedures can be divided into those that are done through blood vessels and those done using routes other than blood vessels. 

The common procedures done through the blood vessels include:

1. Angioplasty

This procedure is performed to open up blocked or narrowed vessels to increase blood flow. A special catheter called the balloon angioplasty catheter is passed across the area of the blocked or narrowed artery. The balloon is then inflated, resulting in reopening of the blockage or narrowing. This method is now increasingly performed in treating narrowed blood vessels in the heart and limbs. It is also possible to place fine metal tubes called stents, in the vessels to keep them open. 

2. Vascular embolisation

The blood supply to tumours can be blocked off by using special material either in the form of coils, foam or gel. This is used to control bleeding before surgery. This method is also used to control bleeding following any kind of accident and to occlude abnormal dilatations of blood vessels (aneurysms). 

3. Chemoembolisation

The delivery of cancer medication as close to the cancer as possible using fine tubes placed in the arteries is called chemoembolisation. This allows higher doses of the drug closer to the cancer without some of the complications that would be experienced in chemotherapy delivered through your arm veins. Presently this is used often to treat cancers of the liver. 

4. Thrombolysis

Dissolving blood clots by chemicals as close to the clot as possible via catheters is called thrombolysis. The alternative of which would be the need for surgery. 

The more common interventional procedures not done through blood vessels include:

1. Needle biopsies – Using very fine needles, radiologists are able to take samples of tissue through the skin without the need for surgery. The placement of the needles is guided using a variety of imaging techniques from fluoroscopy, ultrasound, computed tomography and even magnetic resonance imaging.
2. Drainage procedures – This is done to relieve obstruction to the kidneys and ducts in the liver as well as to drain pus or fluid collections in most parts of the body.

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Last Updated:
Thursday, 21 August, 2003