What is interventional radiology?
Interventional radiology refers to a subspecialty of radiology in which advanced imaging techniques including ultrasound, fluoroscopy (continuous x-ray), CT, and MRI are utilized to guide the delivery of materials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. IR is part of an initiative at the College of Veterinary Medicine directed toward providing advanced therapies for companion animals in a minimally invasive fashion. This minimally invasive approach to treatment facilitates shorter hospital stays, decreased pain, and a more rapid return to function. The MSU IR Program is one of only two formal IR Services in the country.
Interventional radiology is a rapidly growing area of medicine. Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments performed using imaging guidance. Interventional radiology procedures often replace open surgical procedures. They are generally easier for the patient because they involve no large incisions, less risk, less pain and shorter recovery times. Interventional radiologists (IRs) use their expertise in reading X-rays, ultrasound 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 percutaneously (through the skin). These procedures are typically much less invasive and much less costly than traditional surgery. Who are interventional radiologists? Interventional radiologists are medical doctors who have specialized in doing medical procedures that involve radiology. Radiologists use imaging equipme
Interventional Radiology is the medical specialty devoted to advancing patient care throught the integration of clinical, imaging-based diagnosis and innovative minimally invasive therapy. Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive treatments using imaging guidance. Interventional radiology procedures are advances in medicine that have replaced many open surgical procedures. They are generally safer for the patient because they involve no large incision, and associated with less pain and shorter recovery times. Examples of some of these procedures include: angioplasty, stenting, nephrostomy, central venous access, thrombolysis, vertebroplasty, endografting, uterine fibroid embolization, intra-arterial stroke treatment and chemoembolization.
Every interventional radiologist is confronted by this question from time to time. For many of us it is a frustrating question because we do so many different things, and much of what we do cannot be explained in simple terms! My favorite short answer is that Interventional Radiology is “radiologically-guided surgery”, but even this simplistic explanation often draws incredulous stares or blank expressions. This syllabus is presented here in an attempt to describe the field of Interventional Radiology to anyone perusing the MIRS Internet site. This syllabus was compiled over the course of several years as a resource for medical students and house-staff at the University of Kansas Medical Center. These writings are representative of our experience in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at KUMC, tempered by the author’s understanding of the current literature. It is gratifying that, in recent years, this syllabus has been adopted as the “Interventional Radiology Bible” by the residents
