What is Interventional Radiology?
Interventional radiology is a medical specialty that uses minimal access for surgical procedures. These are performed for diagnosis or treatment of various medical conditions with the help of imaging guidance. The imaging allows the physicians to see inside the body, which enables them to perform the procedures using the least invasive techniques currently available, often through key-hole sized incisions on the skin. These procedures usually cause less pain and have a much shorter recovery time in comparison to open surgery. The physicians that perform these surgical procedures are called interventional radiologists.
What types of imaging are used?
The main imaging modalities that are used are CT scan, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and occasionally MRI.
How does an interventional radiologist help treat lung cancer?
Surgical treatment remains the ideal approach for treating early stage lung cancers. However, some patients may wish to avoid conventional surgery or are not candidates for surgery because of their general health or lung condition. These patients may be able to have their lung cancer treated by minimally invasive thermal ablation methods. There are various thermal ablative techniques, including
- Cryoablation: In this method, the cancer is treated using extremely low temperatures.
- Microwave Radiofrequency ablation: In these methods, the cancer is treated by using heat energy.
During a lung ablation procedure, one or more needles are placed in or around the cancer in the lung. A CT scan is used to provide imaging guidance for placement of needles. The cancer cells are then destroyed (ablated) by delivering energy delivered through these needles to create either intense heat or cold. The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia. The patient is admitted in the hospital for observation and most patients are discharged the next day.
Follow-up Care
After the procedures, you will be followed closely, with scheduled CT scans and PET (positron emission tomography) scans. These procedures can be repeated if the cancer comes back, or if the tumor has an incomplete response to them.
To learn more:
The Department of Interventional Radiology
Lung Cancer Management Team
Lung Cancer Surgery