Interventional radiology is a ‘super-specialty’ in radiology which has become an integral part of the patient’s overall care, providing alternatives to surgery for a wide range of health problems.
Image techniques like fluoroscope, ultrasound, computerized tomography and magnetic resonance are used to guide in the placement of needles, catheters and devices directly to their destinations inside the body through a small incision in the skin. These procedures are often carried out with local anesthetic or intravenous sedation and so general anesthesia is not required.
Special diagnostic techniques:
- Core needle biopsy
- Vacuum-assisted biopsy
- Tumor radiofrequency ablation