n addition to radiologists specializing in certain types of imaging, some of these doctors treat diseases and ailments. They are called interventional radiologists. Interventional radiologists are involved in the treatment of the patient, rather than just the initial diagnosis of disease.

Interventional radiologists generally use narrow tubes called catheters to treat a broad range of conditions inside the body from the outside. Interventional Procedures may be an important alternative to surgery that may produce equally good results.

The advantages of Interventional Procedures are that they are less invasive, generally safer, less costly and faster than surgery. The majority of these procedures also can eliminate the need for hospitalization.

One of the most common Interventional Procedures is the clearing of blocked blood vessels. This is one of the most dramatic applications of the interventionalist's art. If blood vessels become totally blocked they can cause a loss of function of the tissue or even death. To increase blood flow, the interventionalist will insert the catheter into a blood vessel and thread it to the point of the narrowing or blockage.

By inflating a tiny balloon on the end of the catheter, the radiologist can break open the blockage and return normal blood flow to the tissue. Other techniques are available to open blocked vessels, including catheters with tiny blades or laser-driven cutting edges. The effect is dramatic and immediate, and the need for subsequent surgery is often eliminated.

Interventionalists are increasing the blood flow through narrowed kidney arteries to treat high blood pressure. The same techniques are used to open: 1) narrowed or blocked leg arteries which cause pain on exercise and 2) narrowed coronary arteries which cause chest pain, heart attacks, and even death.

The list of treatments and tests which can be performed by the interventionalist continues to grow and includes: the removal of tissue samples from the liver, lungs and other vital organs, drainage of fluid from the chest, abdomen or kidneys and the removal of gallstones and kidney stones.

By injecting beads, coils or other materials through catheters, radiologists can cause the intentional blocking of arteries which are bleeding or supplying nutrients to life-threatening cancers or tumors.


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September 30, 2003