Interventional radiology requires specific skills, highly qualified professionals and leading-edge technology to conduct meaningful diagnosis and effective treatment. PAMF offers all of these components in many of our facilities throughout our service area.
What is Interventional Radiology?
Radiology is the medical use of imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease. It can be divided into two different areas: diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology.
Interventional radiologists use imaging technology to both investigate and treat various conditions using catheters, wires and other small instruments that are advanced into your body, often through a vein.
Interventional radiology tends to be less invasive than surgery or looking inside a body with a scope (camera). Conditions treated using interventional radiology include certain types of cancers or tumors, blockages in arteries and veins, fibroids in the uterus, back pain, gallstones, gallbladder problems and thyroid disorders.
Procedures may or may not include an incision (usually a small one) and rarely is a hospital stay required. Most patients also need only conscious sedation or spinal/epidural anesthesia.
Radiologists who perform these types of procedures receive one to two extra years of training after they have finished medical school and their basic radiology training.
