Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiology is the use of medical imaging to look within the body in conjunction with minimally invasive methods to diagnose, treat, and relieve symptoms of cancer. Catheters and needles are used by our physicians to treat a wide range of medical problems that might have needed surgery in the past.

We utilize interventional radiology (IR) methods at Memorial Sloan Kettering to administer cancer-killing radioactive particles, chemotherapy, heat, cold, or even electric fields directly to tumours. CT, ultrasound, PET, and MRI imaging methods aid in the guidance of these treatments, allowing your doctor to identify the precise region of therapy while reducing the impact on normal surrounding tissue.

Every year, our interventional radiologists conduct approximately 14,000 minimally invasive treatments. Our experience in this expanding area enables us to treat a wide range of medical problems that would have previously needed surgery, frequently enabling patients to return home the same day.

When compared to surgery, image-guided treatments provide fewer dangers to our patients and enable them to recuperate more rapidly. In reality, the vast majority of IR patients are able to return home the same day. Furthermore, IR treatments do not need incisions and are often performed under conscious sedation, which eliminates the need for general anaesthesia.

Cancers of the lung, liver, kidney, and bone are among the most frequent illnesses we treat using image-guided methods. However, this is a developing area, and we are investigating its application in the treatment of a number of different cancer types.

What Is the Purpose of Interventional Radiology?

Image-guided methods may be employed as the main therapy to kill tumours, avoid bleeding during surgery, or alleviate discomfort associated with cancer or its treatment. When a patient is unable to have surgery, we may suggest IR treatments.

Furthermore, our interventional radiologists may use these techniques to diagnose cancer (via image-guided biopsy), to drain infections and abnormal collections of fluid in the chest and abdomen, or to implant devices such as chest ports so that patients who require regular chemotherapy drug infusions can have them delivered directly into the bloodstream.