Introduction:
Interventional radiology (IR) is an advanced medical specialty that includes procedures that are minimally invasive and targeted treatment based on imaging guidance. This technique includes multiple types of procedures, such as the treatment of ruptured arterial aneurysms to the treatment of cancer. Interventional radiology provides emergency and effective care, thus improving the patient outcome and reducing the mortality rate, and offering more choices to the patient.
What Is Interventional Radiography?
Interventional radiology (IR) is a branch of radiology that uses advanced imaging techniques to perform minimally invasive treatments instead of more invasive methods like open surgery. In this, imaging-guided procedures are done to access and treat areas of the body that are not accessible with traditional surgical methods. Therefore this led to the development of the latest and advanced techniques that help in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like cancer, cardiac conditions, and vascular diseases.
Interventional radiology uses images and catheters to perform minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat various conditions. In this procedure, very few or no incisions are made, and most of the patients can return to their homes on the same day of the procedure.
What Is the History of Interventional Radiology?
Interventional radiology was first developed in the late 1950s. During this time, X-ray imaging was being used by radiologists to assist the guiding instruments, such as inserting catheters through the body to deliver medicine. This was a revolutionary way to treat various types of conditions with a new way to approach certain areas of the body that were previously inaccessible. Since then, interventional radiology has evolved a lot, and multiple imaging methods such as CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), and ultrasound can also be used, which can expand the range of conditions that can be managed with this method. Additionally, interventional radiology can also eliminate the need for hospitalization and be used instead of surgery to treat multiple conditions.
What Is the Difference Between Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology?
Both interventional and diagnostic radiology use medical imaging techniques to diagnose and treat conditions, but they have some key differences, such as -
Diagnostic Radiology -
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This technique aims to obtain images of the inside of the body for diagnostic purposes.
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Imaging methods such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds are examined by radiologists to identify medical conditions.
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The main focus is to identify the underlying condition causing the symptoms that the patient is experiencing and formulate an appropriate treatment plan.
Interventional Radiology -
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On the other hand, interventional radiology uses the same medical imaging techniques to help guide minimally invasive methods to diagnose and treat certain conditions.
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IR includes various procedures such as inserting catheters and stents, draining fluid collections, and performing biopsies with the help of imaging techniques to ensure accuracy.
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Interventional radiology aims to treat medical conditions with minimally invasive methods, not as traditional surgical methods, resulting in faster recovery time and lower risks.
Therefore, diagnostic radiology focuses on diagnosing parts and interpreting images to detect the conditions, and interventional radiology is a more advanced method that involves using medical imaging techniques to perform less invasive procedures to diagnose as well as treat certain conditions.
What Types of Procedures Are Done in Interventional Radiology?
The following procedures can be done in interventional radiology such as -
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Angiography - In this procedure, an X-ray of the arteries or veins is taken to view the blockage or abnormal narrowing of the vessels.
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Angioplasty - In this procedure, a small balloon fitted on the catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and is inflated to open up the blockage inside the vessel.
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Embolization - In this procedure, with the help of a catheter, clotting agents are directly inserted into an area that is bleeding or restricts the bleeding, such as an aneurysm or fibroid tumor in the uterus.
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Intravascular Ultrasound - An imaging test is taken to see inside the blood vessels to detect any problem.
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Stent Placement - A tiny mesh is placed (stent) inside a blood vessel to remove the blockage.
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Gastrostomy Tubes - In this method, feeding tubes are inserted directly into the stomach if a patient cannot take food by mouth.
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Foreign Body Removal - A catheter is inserted into the blood vessel to remove the foreign body.
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Needle Biopsy - A small needle is inserted into part of the body guided by an imaging technique to take a tissue sample in case of breast, lung, and other cancers.
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IVC Filters - A small filter is put in the inferior vena cava (IVC) which is a large vein in the abdomen, and this filter helps prevent any blood clot from reaching the lungs.
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Catheters Insertions - Catheters can be inserted with the help of guided imaging techniques such as delivering chemotherapy medicines, nutrition, or hemodialysis.
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Delivering Clot Dissolving Medicines - Medicines such as tissue plasminogen activator, which helps in the disintegration of blood clots, can also be injected at the site of the blockage. This will maintain blood flow in the legs, arms, and other body parts.
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Cancer Treatment - Cancer medicines can be directly delivered at the site of the tumor.
What Type of Conditions Can Be Treated With Interventional Radiography?
Interventional radiology treatment provides better treatment outcomes, such as shorter recovery time with less pain and risk, as compared to traditional surgical methods (open surgery). Therefore, some of the following conditions that can be treated with this method include -
Cancer:
- Lung.
- Kidney.
- Liver.
- Bone.
Vascular Diseases :
- Aneurysm.
- Stroke.
- Atherosclerosis.
- Blood clots.
- Varicose veins.
Men’s Health:
- Enlarged prostate.
- Fertility issues.
Women’s Health:
- Uterine fibroids.
- Chronic pelvic pain.
- Infertility.
What Is the Future of Interventional Radiology?
The future of interventional radiology can be really promising as new technologies, such as robotic-assisted surgery and 3D printing, are being developed and are more readily available. Improvements in imaging techniques are also assisting IR to perform procedures at a much higher rate and improving diagnostic accuracy.
Some of the emerging technologies and procedures that may help transform interventional radiology include -
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Robotics - To improve the quality and accuracy of procedures, robotics is being incorporated into interventional radiology. This can help in performing more complex procedures more easily and precisely, such as biopsy, tumor ablation, and stent placement, and also helps in reducing exposure to radiation to the interventional radiologist.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) - This technology has the potential to revolutionize interventional radiology by providing guidance and advice to radiologists while performing any procedure. Moreover, it can also help identify high-risk patients and provide a prognosis.
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Nanotechnology - Nanoparticles can be engineered to deliver drugs or therapeutic medicines directly at the site of illness or tumor. Therefore, it allows targeted treatment and reduces the exposure of medicine to the other healthy tissues of the body.
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3D Printing - With this technology, duplicate high-detailed models of the patient organs can be created, therefore helping in detailed diagnosis and planning the complex treatment procedures on these models only to detect any complication. Therefore, this helps reduce the risk to the patient and can increase the success rate.
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Virtual and Augmented Reality - This can help provide artificial real-time imaging of the inside of the patient body in three dimensional, which can help in guiding the placement of catheters and other devices with high accuracy and reducing the repetition of the procedure.
Conclusion:
Interventional radiology has improved the quality of diagnostic imaging and provides minimally invasive methods to perform complex procedures with high accuracy. As new technologies are being introduced in radiology, interventional radiology is also evolving. IR has been a great addition to the field of healthcare, and the future for this method looks promising as new technologies are being developed.
