"Welcome
to the
era of
Interventional
Radiology
where
advanced
technology
is used
for better
medical
care as
medicine
advances
into the
new
millennium"
What is the difference between Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology?
Who are Interventional Radiologists?
What are the differences between a Surgeon and an Interventional Radiologist?
What are the advantages of Interventional Radiology?
What are the common interventional radiology procedures?
Where is interventional radiology headed in the future?
How did Interventional Radiology begin (History)?
What is Interventional Radiology?
Interventional radiology is a rapidly growing medical field where Interventional radiologists are doctors who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments performed using high quality imaging guidance. Interventional radiology procedures are an advance in medicine that often replace open surgical operations. They are generally easier for the patient because they involve no large incisions, less risk, less pain and shorter recovery times. < Back to top >
What is the difference between diagnostic and Interventional Radiology?Diagnostic Radiology in general as known to many people is the use of imaging devices such as Ultrasound, CT (CAT scan) or the newer MRI (magnetic resonance Imaging) for diagnosing diseases and disorders inside the body. However, when these imaging devices are used for treatment and intervening in the course of diseases rather than diagnosing them, that is "Interventional Radiology" or "IR". Imaging here is used for guiding catheters or delicate minimally invasive surgical equipment to treat diseases without the need for surgical openings in the body to see what is the problem inside. In such cases, the procedures are "Interventional Radiology" procedures and of course not diagnostic imaging. < Back to top >
The interventional radiologist is a medical doctor who has completed a master degree in Radiology for full understanding of imaging devices and image interpretation of body diseases. The Interventional radiologist then spends 3 years in training how to manipulate special delicate medical devices inside the body under image guidance to able to treat a wide range of diseases.
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A traditional surgeon makes an incision (a cut) under general anasthesia to open up an area of the body, looks inside to determine what is wrong, fixes it and then closes the incision with stitches, staples, tape or other means.
An interventional radiologist is able to see inside the body of a patient without making a surgical incision but rather by using the sophisticated, state-of-the-art X-ray and other imaging devices to guide tiny catheters and other small tools through the body to treat a disease without surgery. These tools enter the body through a tiny nick in the skin about the size of the tip of a pencil. After fixing the problem, the interventional radiologist then removes the catheter and the instruments. Stitches generally are not needed, and procedures rarely require general anesthesia.
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What are the advantages of Interventional Radiology (IR)?
- Most procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis or need only a short hospital stay.
- General anesthesia usually is not required.
- Risk, pain and recovery time are often significantly reduced. < Back to top >
Common Interventional radiology procedures:
Interventional radiologists perform a vast variety of operations to treat various body problems.
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Where is interventional radiology headed in the future?
As technology every day advances and high-quality imaging equipment becomes more widely available, in parallel, Interventional Radiology (IR) is able to offer patients and referral physicians a variety of new treatment options. < Back to top >
Further readings: An important article about the development of Inteventional Radiology.
History of Interventional Radiology?
In the mid-1970s, the improved ability of radiologists to see inside the body gave rise to Interventional radiology (IR), which are minimally invasive targeted treatments performed under guided imaging. Interventional radiology proceduresbecame a major advance in medicine that did not require large incisions, and offer less risk, less pain and shorter recovery times compared to surgery. Interventional radiologist Prof.Charles Dotter invented “Angioplasty” (balloon dilatation of narrowed arteries or veins) and then others invented the first catheter-delivered stent, state of the art treatments that are common place in medicine today. Interventional radiology is a medical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association.
The history of interventional radiology is quite fascinating when a person takes a look at the innovative pioneers who changed the delivery of medicine and greatly improved the quality of patients' lives.