Interventional radiology emcompasses a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using percutaneous, mimimally invasive methods guided by imaging techniques. As an adjunct to or in lieu of surgery, these minimally invasive procedures reduce surgical risks, are less expensive and are equally or more efficient in diagnosis and therapeutic treatment than open surgical procedures.
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The interventional radiologists in this division, under the leadership of Michael D. Darcy, M.D., are board certified in diagnostic radiology with added qualification in vascular and interventional radiology. They diagnose and treat malfunctions in most of the body's systems, including blood vessels, liver, kidneys, lungs, stomach and intestines.
Typical procedures include :
Abscess and chest drainage
Angiography, including abdominal, pulmonary, legs and arms
Angioplasty
Cancer therapy -- embolization and ablation Click here to go to Liver Cancer - Nonsurgical Approaches
Caval filter placement
Embolization
Percutaneous biopsy
Percutaneous gastrostomy placement
Thrombolysis
Venography
Vascular access
In addition, these radiologists are known for their leadership in developing
Cancer therapy -- treatment of tumors (especially in the liver) with techniques to block up the blood supply or directly ablate the tumor
Endovascular stent graft to repair aortic aneurysm
Infertility procedures, including varicocele embolization and selective tubal salpingography and recanalization
Kidney artery angioplasty and metallic stent placement for hypertension and renal failure
Lower extremity angioplasty, including vascular stent placement for the treatment of claudication or pain in the legs with exercise
Percutaneous biliary and renal drainage for obstruction secondary to stones or tumors
Peripheral arterial venous malformation (AVM) treatment
Pulmonary arterial venous malformation (AVM) embolization
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS) for patients with portal hypertension
Uterine Artery Embolization for Uterine Fibroid Tumors
In teamwork with physicians and surgeons in other departments of Washington University School of Medicine, these interventional radiologists provide their patients the highest quality of medical care.