Procedures Performed by Interventional Radiologists
Neurological Procedures
Aneurysm coiling: Procedure that deploys tiny coils via catheter from the groin to the brain
to fill an aneurysm, activate clotting and prevent rupture.
Intracranial Angioplasty: Small balloon tipped catheter inserted into blood vessel in the brain.
Doctor inflates the balloon to open an area of blockage inside the vessel.
Stroke Intervention (Intracranial Mechanical Thrombectomy): Procedure that pulls blood clots from blocked vessels inside the brain
using image-guided catheters and a wire cage device called a stent retriever.
Intracranial Embolization: Substance is administered through a catheter into a blood vessel in the
brain to stop blood flow through that vessel; this can be done to control bleeding.
Vascular Procedures
Angiography: This is a dynamic type of X-ray of the arteries and veins to find blockage
or narrowing of the vessels, as well as other problems.
Angioplasty: The doctor puts a small balloon-tipped catheter into a blood vessel. Then
the doctor inflates the balloon to open an area of blockage inside the vessel.
Embolization: Procedure in which a substance is administered through a catheter into
a blood vessel to stop blood flow through that vessel. This can be done
to control bleeding.
Intravascular Ultrasound: An ultrasound used to see inside a blood vessel to find problems.
Stent Placement: A tiny mesh coil (stent) is placed inside a blood vessel at the site of
the blockage. The doctor expands the stent to open up the blockage.
Oncology Procedures
Biopsy: This is an image guided, minimally invasive process to retrieve a small
tissue sampling to assist in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Chemoembolization: A liver cancer treatment using microscopic beads infused with a chemotherapy
drug that are injected directly into the artery that supplies blood to
the tumor in the liver. The artery is then blocked off or embolized.
Cryoablation: A process in which extreme cold is used to freeze and kill abnormal cancerous
and precancerous cells.
Microwave Ablation: A treatment that uses image guidance to place a needle through the skin into
a cancerous liver tumor.
Y-90: Liver cancer treatment using radioactive microscopic beads that are injected
directly into the artery that supplies blood to the tumor in the liver.
The artery is then blocked off and the tumor is treated with very localized
radiation.
Other Interventional Radiology Procedures
Dialysis Access
Traditional catheter insertion for dialysis treatment
Kyphoplasty: A vertebral augmentation procedure to treat spine fractures and stop pain.
Infection Treatment: Process that drains infected fluid through small needles and tubes.
Paracentesis: A small needle is inserted into the abdomen to remove fluid build-up. This
is usually performed when medication is not effective.
Thoracentesis: A small needle is inserted between lungs or chest wall to remove excess
fluid to improve breathing.
Foreign Body Removal: Procedure in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel to remove
a foreign body in the vessel.
Kidney and Bladder Drainage: Tubes are placed for urine to drain from the kidney and bladder.
Liver and Gallbladder Diseases: A drain is placed in the gallbladder and liver to remove bile. This may
help patients with advanced liver disease.
Needle Biopsy: A small image guided needle is inserted to retrieve tissue for biopsy.
Fine Needle Aspiration: A small needle is inserted and guided by ultrasound imaging to pull liquid specimen.
IVC Filters Placement and Removal: A small filter is placed into the inferior vena cava (IVC), which is used
to catch blood clots that may spread to the lungs.
