|
|||||||||||
 |
|
Home
Interventional Radiology Saves LivesIt provides the latest care for stroke, brain aneurysms and more
Interventional radiology doesn’t just help repair aneurysms. Here are other areas where it is used: Cancer care—Specialists can deliver chemotherapy via a catheter in the artery that feeds a tumor in the liver or spleen. It allows them to send a high concentration of the cancer-fighting drug directly to the tumor, sparing the healthy part of the organ. And, they can deliver tiny particles to block the flow of blood to the tumor, causing it to shrink. Interventional radiologists also can work with cancer surgeons and radiologists to perform needle biopsies identifying the nature of a lump in a breast or other part of the body. They guide the hollow needle through the skin and remove a sample of tissue through the needle—thus avoiding the pain, recovery time and scarring of a traditional surgical biopsy. Stroke care—Interventional radiologists can insert a catheter directly into a blood clot in the brain of a stroke patient to deliver clotbusting drugs. This lifesaving therapy is done in only about 20 medical centers nationally. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network is one of them. Heart and vascular care—Cardiologists and vascular surgeons use interventional radiology to treat blockages in the arteries of the heart, legs and other parts of the body. A familiar example is balloon angioplasty—inserting and inflating a tiny balloon to open the blocked or narrowed vessel. Typically, the doctor also places a small tube called a stent in the vessel to hold it open. Gynecologic care—Interventional radiologists treat fibroid tumors by passing a catheter through the uterine artery and releasing tiny particles of plastic or gelatin to stop blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink. This is called “uterine artery embolization.” Often, it spares the patient from hysterectomy. Interventional radiology also enables doctors to treat infertility by opening blocked fallopian tubes with a catheter.
For more information or to schedule an appointment,
call 610-402-CARE. This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
ARTICLE TOOLS:
|
Local Attorney Survives Trial by Lung Cancer“Dr. Singer saved my life,” he says. “I’ve never known a doctor with as much skill and dedication to his patients.”
|
|
||||
|
|
|
||||||
Interventional radiology procedures are a new and fast-growing area of medicine designed to help repair brain aneurysms. Guided by X-ray, CT, ultrasound or MRI scanners, specially educated physicians feed catheters through blood vessels and arteries or directly into an organ. The catheters provide a channel to deliver treatment—in the form of coils, chemicals, plastic particles and even glue—to a precise area of the body. 
