INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY (Angiography, Angio/Interventional)
This radiologic subspecialty originated in 1953 with the Seldinger technique for safely entering blood vessels percutaneously with needles, catheters and wires. For two decades, the vascular radiologist's role was limited to injecting radiographic contrast material into arteries and veins and taking pictures of these vessels (angiography). With the development of modern cross-sectional imaging techniques ( sonography, CT and MRI ), and digital processing of fluoroscopy the number of diagnostic angiographic studies has decreased but new therapeutic angiographic maneuvers have been invented causing the specialty to change its name to interventional radiology. These techniques include:
Percutaneous Biopsy (obtaining tissue specimens from inside the body without surgery) Percutaneous Drainage (removing fluid collections and bypassing obstructions) Intravascular Therapy (delivery of vasoactive drugs, clot-busting drugs, chemotherapy) Angioplasty (intraluminal dilatation of vascular narrowing or obstruction) Embolization (injection of substances that stop bleeding)
Many patients now undergo angio/interventional procedures in the radiology department in lieu of surgical procedures in the operating room. The risks of anesthesia are avoided, hospital stays are markedly shortened and costs are diminished.