Interventional radiology and vascular radiology are fields of modern medicine that have made it possible to perform image-guided treatments without the need for open surgery, particularly within the circulatory system.
Interventional radiology is a medical specialty that uses imaging to perform and guide minimally invasive procedures. Within this field, subspecialties such as vascular radiology focus specifically on treating diseases of the blood vessels.
What is interventional radiology?
Diagnostic and interventional radiology allow physicians to perform both therapeutic and diagnostic procedures with the support of imaging guidance.
Unlike traditional surgical interventions involving incisions or long recovery periods, interventional radiology involves minimally invasive procedures, meaning the specialist uses small instruments that require tiny incisions only a few millimeters wide.
The main objective of interventional radiology is to treat conditions without the need for open surgery, helping reduce the risk of complications and recovery times.
Interventional radiology equipment is designed to perform various functions, such as therapeutic interventional radiology procedures, all performed in an interventional radiology suite.
Vascular radiology
Vascular radiology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the circulatory system, including arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels.
Vascular radiologists use medical imaging to evaluate different conditions in the blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis, aneurysms, varicose veins, or deep vein thrombosis, for example.
Additionally, vascular and interventional radiology allow various treatments to be performed.
Interventional radiology procedures
Interventional radiology and vascular radiology include a wide range of procedures aimed at treating the vascular system, such as:
- Angioplasty and stent placement: one of the most common vascular radiology procedures. It is used to widen obstructed or narrowed arteries, helping treat conditions such as peripheral artery disease or coronary artery atherosclerosis.
- Embolization: a procedure that blocks blood supply to a part of the body and helps treat tumors, arteriovenous malformations, or control hemorrhages.
- Thrombectomy: an interventional procedure used to remove blood clots that obstruct arteries or veins, especially in emergencies such as ischemic stroke or deep vein thrombosis.
- Radiofrequency ablation: a procedure used to destroy abnormal tissue, such as tumors, using heat generated by radiofrequency.
- Image-guided biopsies: an alternative to open biopsy that uses imaging to guide a needle toward a lesion or tumor to extract a tissue sample.
- Percutaneous drainage: used to drain abscesses, cysts, or abnormal fluid collections in the body without requiring a more invasive surgery.
Interventional radiology and vascular radiology are revolutionary fields of medicine that have made it possible to offer less invasive alternatives to procedures that previously required traditional surgery.
Vascular radiologist near me
At ABC Medical Center’s Radiology and Molecular Imaging Department, we have a team of highly trained specialists in interventional and vascular radiology, dedicated to providing comprehensive and personalized care for all your imaging needs.
Our vascular radiologists in Mexico City are committed to your well-being and use the latest technology and most advanced treatments to manage conditions such as radiofrequency ablation, angioplasty, embolization, and more.
Fuentes:
Elsevier, Kids Health, UHealth
