Interventional Radiology

Non-Vascular Interventions

Needle biopsy

This involves inserting a thin needle into the patient at the site in question in order to obtain fluid or tissue samples. These samples allow the doctor to determine if there is cancer or infections in organs such as the liver, lung or pancreas.

Drainage

An abscess in the body can be treated by placing a small catheter in the abscessed area with the help of an ultrasound or CT scan, thus, avoiding a major operation. Using the catheter, the contents of the abscess are drained out.

Vertebroplasty

A minimally invasive procedure used to restore mobility and treat the pain associated with vertebral compression fractures. The procedure uses an acrylic bone cement to stabilize the vertebra. For more information about this procedure, click here.

Biliary Interventions

PTC (percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography)

In certain jaundice cases, a PTC is performed in which a needle is placed into the liver to inject dye which helps determine the level of bile duct obstruction.

Bile duct drainage

Patients with gallstones, pancreatitis or cancer involving pancreas and bile ducts, may have blocked bile ducts, causing blockage to the normal flow of bile into the gut. To correct this problem, the interventional radiologist places a thin catheter through the skin and into the bile ducts to drain the bile. In some cases, the obstruction can be relieved by performing a bile duct dilatation and a stent placement.

Cholecystostomy

This procedure is performed similar to a bile duct drainage but involves the gallbladder.

Bile duct stone removal

In some cases, the stones causing the obstruction can be removed using a stone basket.