Interventional radiologists use X-rays and other advanced imaging techniques to “see” inside the body while simultaneously delivering treatments for cancer and other conditions. Using 3D images, these specialists can precisely treat only the tumor and spare normal tissue. Procedures performed by interventional radiologists are generally less invasive and involve smaller incisions, less pain and shorter hospital stays.
At Fox Chase Cancer Center, a team of six fellowship-trained interventional radiologists offers patients a wide variety of minimally-invasive procedures, including:
Microwave ablation: The destruction of tumors by microwaves or heating
Cryoablation: The destruction of tumors by freezing
Chemoembolization: Image-guided treatment that delivers chemotherapy directly to a tumor through its blood supply. At Fox Chase, interventional radiologists are implanting small beads that release chemotherapy directly to a tumor over time.
Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT): Image-guided treatment to target and treat malignant tumors in the liver directly via its blood supply using particles coated with radiation
Pain relief: For patients with pain or fractures from cancer in the bones, relief can often be achieved either by ablation or vertebroplasty, a procedure that uses stabilizing “cement” injected into the bone under image guidance.
Thoracic duct embolization: A procedure that closes tears in the thoracic duct (a long vein-like tube in the chest) that are leaking lymphatic fluid around the lungs.
Fox Chase Cancer Center interventional radiologists also place ports and PICC lines, percutaneous catheters for the kidney and gallbladder, gastrostomy tubes and IVC filters, and perform angiography for diagnosis and treatment.