What is Interventional Radiology?

Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical subspecialty of radiology. Interventional radiologist physicians use minimally invasive, image-guided techniques using a variety of tools to diagnose and treat disease in nearly every organ system.  IR doctors perform procedures generally through a small nick in the skin, reducing patient discomfort and recovery time when compared with most surgical procedures. Our interventional radiologists provide a range of services:

  • Vascular access (including port placement, tunneled catheter placement) and removal
  • Lung biopsy, kidney biopsy, liver biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, breast biopsy, and other types of biopsy
  • Uterine fibroid embolization
  • Tumor ablation (radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation)
  • Palliative cancer treatment (such as tunneled pleural/peritoneal catheters, etc.)
  • Dialysis access intervention such as thrombolysis, angioplasty, hemodialysis catheter placement, peritoneal dialysis catheter placement
  • Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) diagnosis treatment
  • Treatment of bleeding organs
  • Kyphoplasty
  • Gastrointestinal interventions (gastrostomy tube placement, biliary drain placement, biliary stenting)
  • Urinary tract interventions (nephrostomy tube placement, nephroureteral tube or stent placement)

How are Interventional Radiology procedures performed?

Interventional radiology procedures utilize imaging guidance to perform procedure without requiring directly seeing the problem areas. While surgical procedures require either an opening in the body or placement of cameras to see inside the body, interventional radiologists work by using real time x-ray (fluoroscopy), CT, or ultrasound to guide them. They then direct catheters, wires, and/or needles to the area of the body that needs treatment either directly or through the body’s natural channels like the blood vessels, intestines, or bile ducts. Through those catheter or needles the necessary treatments can be performed, either by injecting contrast to visualize a problem, obtaining a tissue sample, or delivering medications or devices such as stents.

Because the procedures generally require quite a bit of equipment, most interventional radiology procedures are performed in a hospital setting or in a procedural center. Patients often are temporarily admitted to a facility and an IV started to give medications and/or fluids, then stay for a few hours afterwards to ensure no complications arise.

What are the benefits of IR procedures?

Most IR procedures are performed through a very small incision, usually no more than a few millimeters in size. Everything is then done through that small incision with imaging guidance. This reduces healing and recovery time and reduces the amount of additional tissue damage when compared with surgery. Since the procedures are actively guided by imaging and performed by doctors trained to interpret that imaging, treatment can be delivered in a very controlled, precise manner. Furthermore, while most surgeries require general anesthesia or extensive nerve blocks, most IR procedures can be done with local anesthesia or moderate sedation alone, further reducing the risk of the procedure and recovery time, as well as making procedures safe for some patients who are unable to undergo general anesthesia. Patients frequently can go home the day of the procedure. 

To learn more or for any questions, please call (714) 970-0200 or email office@fullertonradiology.org. For facility specific questions or concerns, please use the Locations page to find the appropriate contact information. Fullerton Radiology Medical Group radiologist physicians help doctors and patients at its affiliated locations, which serve the Anaheim, Bellflower, Brea, Buena Park, Cerritos, Corona, Fullerton, Orange, Placentia, Riverside, Yorba Linda, and neighboring communities.