Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiologists are medical doctors with additional specialized training after medical school. Interventional radiology is a fast-growing medical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The American Board of Radiology administers board certification in Vascular and Interventional Radiology as well as Diagnostic Radiology.

Using real-time images from X-ray, CT, ultrasound or MRI, interventional radiologists guide needles, catheters and other small instruments through tiny incisions to diagnose and treat a wide variety of medical conditions.

Diseases and Conditions

Interventional radiology procedures are performed for a wide variety of diseases and medical conditions, including:

  • Carotid artery disease
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Liver and portal hypertension
  • Infertility (male or female)
  • Pelvic pain
  • Peripheral vascular disease
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Renal artery disease and hypertension
  • Stroke
  • Thrombosis
  • Uterine fibroids
  • Varicose veins
  • Cancer treatments (breast, bone, kidney, liver and lung)

Minimally Invasive Treatments

Interventional radiologists perform minimally invasive, targeted treatments, including:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair
  • Angioplasty and vascular stenting
  • Carotid angioplasty with stenting
  • Central venous access catheters and gastronomy (feeding) tubes
  • Chemoembolization
  • Endovenous ablation of varicose veins
  • Radiofrequency ablation
  • Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
  • Uterine artery embolization