Interventional radiology is a subspecialty of radiology in which a radiologist performs medical operations using various medical imaging modalities such as X-rays or ultrasound. These include invasive diagnostic procedures such as an arteriogram test or a biopsy as well as endovascular and percutaneous therapies. It is impossible to include all of the interventional radiology techniques here.

Cancer therapies have advanced significantly in recent years and it is now feasible to provide curative treatments for some tumours either by embolization or through thermal ablation, which entails utilising heat from high-frequency radio waves or microwaves to kill cancer cells.

Treatment
Here are some of the therapies for which IR is deemed helpful, ranging from oncology to surgery:

Stopping the bleeding
IR helps patients halt bleeding by closing bleeding arteries from the inside with fewer consequences. It also treats haemorrhages, which is very crucial after surgery. There is no need to conduct another operation on the patient to halt the bleeding.

Tumour pathologies
IR employs percutaneous procedures to access tumours via probes using medical imaging:

CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound. The goal is to find the tumour and implant probes into it in order to eliminate it. Heat radiated by radio frequencies or microwaves is employed for this purpose. As a result, the tumour is internally burnt.

Probes that freeze tissues at -80 °C can also be utilised as an alternative. The liquid freezes inside the cells, causing them to explode. Tumors are thus eradicated in this manner without requiring a surgery or an incision on the patient. This is as successful as surgery in properly chosen circumstances.

On rare occasions, IR also provides complete cures for tumours that were previously thought to be incurable. For instance, a cancer of any kind can be injected with radioactive particles to irradiate it from the inside before it is ultimately destroyed. This procedure, called radioembolisation, is well tolerated by patients.

Injecting customised viruses that will exclusively assault tumour cells is another very promising method. Naturally, the virus is altered to prevent it from harming healthy cells.

Bile ducts and gallstones
Additionally, biliary diseases, gallstones and bile duct blockages are treated with IR. Gallstones can be broken up and removed without surgery by entering the bile ducts to unclog them in the same manner as vessels are.

Also, when it comes to your Interventional Radiology procedure, you should always consider a second opinion. A second opinion confirms the present diagnosis and choice of procedure or it provides new information that may improve therapy success. When the diagnosis is ambiguous or there is no expected therapeutic response or you are unhappy with the diagnosis or therapy, you should seek a second opinion.

At Radiologycheck.com, you can get a precise second opinion and guidance on your intervention radiology procedure.