Interventional radiologists are doctors that use imaging such as CT, ultrasound, MRI and fluoroscopy to help guide procedures. The imaging is helpful to the doctor when inserting catheters, wires, and other small instruments and tools into your body. This typically allows for smaller incisions (cuts).

Doctors can use this technology to diagnose or treat conditions in almost any part of the body instead of needing to directly look inside of your body through a scope (camera) or with open surgery.

Interventional radiologists often are involved in treating cancers or tumors, blockages in the arteries and veins, fibroids in the uterus, back pain, liver problems, and kidney problems.

The doctor will make no incision or only a very small one. You rarely need to stay in the hospital after the procedure. Most persons need only conscious sedation (medicines to help you relax).

Radiologists who perform these types of procedure receive 1 or 2 extra years of training after they have finished medical school, a medical or surgical internship, and four years of basic training in radiology.

Examples of interventional radiology procedures include:

• Angiography or angioplasty and stent placement
• Embolization to control bleeding
• Tumor embolization using chemoembolization or Y-90 radioembolization
• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
• Needle biopsies of different organs, such as the lungs and thyroid gland
• Tumor ablation with radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, or microwave ablation
• Uterine artery embolization
• Feeding tube placement
• Venous access catheter placement, such as Ports and PICCs