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What is interventional radiology

Interventional Radiology is a discipline specialising in the diagnosis and/or treatment of a vast array of conditions by performing minimally invasive procedures.

The following imaging techniques guide these procedures:

  • x-ray

  • ultrasound

  • magnetic resonance (MR)

  • computed tomography (CT).

Catheters with guide wires, usually only one-two millimetres in diameter, are guided through blood vessels or other organ pathways to treat at the site of disease.

The body parts and systems that can be treated using interventional radiology techniques are:

  • abdomen (intestine, kidneys, liver, stomach)

  • central nervous system (brain, spine)

  • chest (lungs, pleurae)

  • heart and vascular (arteries, veins, haemodialysis access)

  • musculoskeletal (bones, joints, spine)

  • genitourinary (uterus, kidneys)

  • others (specimens from all organs and soft tissues).

Interventional radiologists pioneered the safe and high quality procedures and standards for performing minimally invasive medicine with a concentration on patient safety.

This information was sourced from the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe please click on the link to go to their website www.cirse.org