General Interventional Radiology
General IR Procedures
Interventional radiology (IR) is minimally invasive, image-guided procedures that treat a wide array of diseases and conditions. These targeted treatments use various radiology techniques to guide small devices, such as catheters and stents, into blood vessels to deliver medication, treat blocks, or open closed vessels. Usually, IR procedures require little recovery time because they are far less traumatic. As well as a reduction in recovery time, IR procedures benefit patients because they are less painful, less risky, and usually, cost less.
Procedures and Information
What is Angiography and Venography?
Angiography is an x-ray of the arteries and venography is an x-ray of the veins used to diagnose and treat blockages and other blood vessel problems. Through a small incision, a catheter is inserted into the blood vessel with a contrast agent to make the artery or vein visible on the x-ray.
What are some common uses for Angiography and Venography?
Angiography and Venography are used to diagnose medical conditions in multiple areas, including the:
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- brain
- abdomen (kidneys and liver)
- neck
- pelvis
- heart
- legs and feet
- chest
- arms and hands
The procedure can:
- Identify abnormalities, such as aneurysms or abnormal communications between blood vessels.
- Detect plaque disease in the carotid artery, which can cause a stroke.
- Guide interventional radiologists and surgeons making repairs to blood vessels and evaluate repairs.
- Evaluate arteries feeding a tumor prior to surgery.
What is Embolization?
Embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that places medications or synthetic materials (embolic agents) through a catheter into a blood vessel or vascular channel to block blood flow to a certain area of the body. Embolization is a highly effective way to control bleeding and is less invasive than open surgery.
What are some common uses for Embolization?
- Control bleeding resulting from an injury, tumor, or gastrointestinal tract lesion such as an ulcer.
- Cut off blood supply to uterine fibroid tumors that cause long or heavy menstrual periods. See Uterine Fibroid Embolization page for more information on how interventional radiology can help with uterine fibroids.
- Close off the vessel that supplies blood to tumors when removal is difficult or impossible so that the tumor shrinks or slows the growing process.
- Treat aneurysms by cutting off blood supply to the aneurysm or closing the aneurysmal sac itself.
- Treat varicoceles (enlarged veins) in the scrotum that may cause infertility.
What is Abscess Drainage?
An abscess is an infectious fluid-filled mass within the body. Percutaneous abscess drainage uses image guidance to insert a catheter through the skin and into the abscess to remove or drain the infected fluid.
What are some common uses for Abscess Drainage?
Most commonly, percutaneous abscess drainage is used to remove infected fluid in the abdomen and pelvis. The abscess has many possible causes but may be the result of recent surgery or an infection such as diverticulitis.
What is a PleurX Catheter?
The PleurX catheter is a drainage system that lets you manage pleural effusions or malignant ascites. The PleurX catheter is either inserted into the chest for draining pleural effusions or in the abdomen for draining malignant ascites. While not in use, the end of the catheter stays covered on the outside of the body by a thin protective dressing.
How can a Chest or Abdominal PleurX Catheter help you?
The PleurX catheter system allows you to drain fluid at home and on your own time, without needing weekly doctor visits for thoracentesis or paracentesis. Clothing easily covers the catheter so no one will know you have a PleurX catheter if you do not want them to.
What is a pleural effusion?
A pleural effusion is when fluid builds up are your lungs, causing breathing difficulty.
What are malignant ascites?
Malignant ascites is when fluid builds up in your abdomen, causing pressure and discomfort.
What is PICC?
PICC stands for peripherally inserted central catheter, which is inserted into a vein in the arm or leg extending to the largest veins near your heart. PICC is used to carry nutrients and medicines into your body and may also be used to draw blood for blood tests. Typically, PICC is used when central IV access is needed for longer periods of time.
What are some common uses for PICC Placement?
PICC may be used for the following reasons:
- An extreme needle phobia
- Veins that are difficult to get into to start an IV
- Chemotherapy that has to be given as a continuous infusion (more than an hour)
- Frequent drawing of blood samples during treatment
- Intravenous therapies such as blood transfusions and antibiotic therapies
What is an Arthrography?
Arthrography is a type of imaging used to diagnose and evaluate joint conditions. It can detect disease within the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Indirect arthrography is where a contrast material is injected into the blood stream and eventually absorbed into the joint. More commonly used, direct arthrography is where a contrast material is directly injected into the joint, which enlarges the joint allowing for enhanced imaging and improved evaluation of diseases or conditions within the joint. This procedure is usually used to identify abnormalities in the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle.
What is an Epidural Steroid Injection?
An epidural steroid injection is an injection of an anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory medication (such as cortisone), which reduces inflammation and lessens (or resolves) pain associated with inflammation of the nerve root that radiates to an arm or leg. The term "epidural" refers to the injection site called the epidural space, which is the space around the spinal cord and is the outermost part of the spinal canal. Imaging guidance, such as fluoroscopy or CT, may be used to help place the injection needle in the target area causing pain.
What is a facet joint injection?
Facet joints are located on each side of the vertebra in the neck and back where one vertebra slightly overlaps another. These joints help guide the spine in movement and provide support. A facet joint injection is an image-guided injection of an anesthetic and steroid medication directly into the joint causing pain to provide relief from pain commonly associated with arthritis or back injury.
What is an Ultrasound Fine Needle Aspiration?
Ultrasound Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy is an ultrasound-guided biopsy where ultrasound images are used to help guide the interventional radiologist to the site of the suspicious imaging findings. There the radiologist uses a fine (very thin) needle to sample a small amount of tissue (fine needle aspiration).
What are some common uses for an Ultrasound Fine Needle Aspiration?
The most common reason for an ultrasound fine-needle aspiration biopsy is to find out what is causing a thyroid lump or breast mass.
What is a CT guided biopsy?
A biopsy is a procedure that removes and examines tissue from the body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease. A CT guided biopsy means that a CT (computed tomography) scanner is used to take detailed images of the inside of the body that an interventional radiologist will use to accurately insert a needle into the tissue or organ and remove a sample for testing (biopsy).
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