Interventional Radiology Doctors Near Me

Who are interventional radiologists?

Interventional radiologists (IRs) are medical doctors specializing in interventional radiology, a subspecialty of radiology. They perform minimally invasive procedures using tiny instruments, such as catheters and needles, to treat various medical conditions. You can seek interventional radiology near you for the following:

• Cancer: Bone and soft tissue, breast, kidney, liver, lung, pancreatic, percutaneous tumor ablation (radiofrequency, microwave, cryoablation), and more
• Hepatobiliary disease: Blocked bile ducts, cirrhosis of the liver, end-stage liver disease, and hepatobiliary (biliary interventions)
• Women's health: Infertility (fallopian tube recanalization), pelvic congestion syndrome, and uterine artery embolization for fibroids and adenomyosis
• Men's health: Arteriography for erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, chronic bladder outlet obstruction, infertility and varicocele embolization, and prostate hypertrophy
• Endocrine: Ablation for adrenal adenomas, adrenal vein sampling, parathyroid adenomas, thyroid biopsy and nodules
• Arterial disease: Narrowing of blood vessels, peripheral arterial disease, and visceral aneurysms
• Spine/pain: Back pain, compression fracture and vertebral augmentation, facet injection, scrotoplasty for insufficiency fractures, spine biopsy, and tumor pain
• Venous disease: Blood clots (DVT, PE), hemodialysis access management, IVC filter retrieval, vascular malformations, and varicose veins
• Digestive disease: Stomach and swallowing disorders
• Trauma and bleeding: Acute traumatic bleeding from injury, aneurysm rupture, gastrointestinal and lung hemorrhage

Interventional radiology offers less complex alternatives to traditional surgical procedures. In many cases, eliminating the need for hospitalization improves patient outcomes and quality of life.

Educational qualifications of interventional radiologists

Becoming an interventional radiologist involves several years of education and training. 

Interventional radiologists typically attend medical school after completing a four-year bachelor's program. They undergo a five-year residency in diagnostic radiology, followed by a specialized one to two-year fellowship in interventional radiology. Board certification in diagnostic and interventional radiology is common. Licensure and continuing education are also required to maintain expertise in this field. 

What procedures do interventional radiologists perform?

Interventional radiologists perform an extensive range of procedures, including:

• Angiography: It refers to an X-ray of the arteries and veins. It generally helps find blockage or narrowing of the vessels, along with other problems.
• Angioplasty: It entails the usage of a balloon-tipped catheter into the patient's blood vessel. The doctor then inflates the balloon. It opens up the area of blockage inside the vessel.
• Embolization: It involves blocking blood vessels to control bleeding and other conditions. The doctor achieves this by putting a substance through a catheter into a blood vessel, stopping blood flow. 
• Gastrostomy tubes: These are beneficial for people suffering from swallowing disorders, such as problems taking food by mouth. The physician places a feeding tube into the stomach to help.
• Intravascular ultrasound: As the name suggests, the interventional radiologist employs ultrasound in this procedure. It assists in seeing inside a blood vessel to locate issues.
• Stent placement: A stent is a tiny mesh coil that the doctor inserts into the blood vessel at the blockage site and expands to open the blockage.
• Foreign body removal: It includes placing a catheter into a blood vessel, which helps remove a problematic foreign body.
• Needle biopsy: It helps with tissue biopsy. The specialist puts a small needle into almost any part of the body. They use the guidance of imaging techniques. This type of biopsy helps them get a diagnosis without surgery. A needle breast biopsy is an excellent example of this procedure.
• IVC filters: The doctor places a small filter into the inferior vena cava (IVC), a large vein located in the abdomen, to prevent blood clots from reaching the lungs.
• Injection of clot-dissolving medicines: The physician administers medications, such as tissue plasminogen activator, through injection. These drugs dissolve blood clots, enhancing blood circulation to your limbs, legs, or other organs.
• Catheter insertions: The physician inserts a catheter into a large vein to administer chemotherapy medications, provide nutritional support, or facilitate hemodialysis. They may also use this procedure as a preparatory step before a bone marrow transplant.
• Cancer treatment: The physician gives the cancer medicine directly to the tumor's location.

An interventional radiologist's specific procedures can vary based on patient needs and the specialist's expertise.

What are the benefits of interventional radiology?

Interventional radiology offers several benefits and is used in various medical treatments. One significant advantage is that it allows direct access to the specific area of the body needing treatment while reducing the risk of adverse effects commonly associated with traditional treatment methods or surgeries.

In cancer treatment, interventional radiology plays a crucial role by enabling the precise delivery of radioactive particles or chemotherapy directly to tumors, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Additionally, interventional radiology procedures often eliminate the need for overnight hospital stays, making it a convenient option for patients.

In addition to cancer treatment, interventional radiology is used to address various blood vessel issues, such as narrowed arteries, blood clots, aneurysms, plaque buildup, stroke, and varicose veins. Interventional radiology also treats kidney diseases, including procedures for accessing veins during dialysis, diagnosing kidney failure, and removing kidney stones.

Moreover, interventional radiology can be utilized for individuals with gallstones who may not be suitable candidates for surgery. It offers a non-surgical method to remove gallstones without anesthesia, catering to those with multiple medical issues.

Uterine fibroids, which require a blood supply to grow, can be treated using interventional radiology procedures such as embolization. This technique involves releasing tiny particles to clog the blood vessels feeding the fibroid, resulting in shrinking without the need for surgery.

Lastly, interventional radiology is employed for placing central lines, allowing healthcare professionals to insert IVs deep into the body to administer medication.

How to find an interventional radiologist near you?

Interventional radiologists play a vital role in modern healthcare. They offer advanced, less invasive solutions for diagnosis and treatment, ultimately enhancing patient well-being. Finding such qualified doctors is usually challenging but effortless if you use Zocdoc, your partner in health.

Zocdoc aims to simplify the task of finding desired, top-rated healthcare providers. Visit the Zocdoc website and create or log in to your account. Enter your location, symptoms, or the type of specialist you are looking for, in this case, "interventional radiologist." Hitting the search button will get you a list of thousands of experts meeting all your requirements.

You can refine the list of interventional radiologists near you using filters like accepted insurance plans and gender preference. If you have more than one insurance plan, you can include medical, dental, and vision insurance plans in your Zocdoc account. However, you can only search for and schedule appointments with one insurance plan at a time. If you possess multiple insurance plans, you can specify your secondary carrier and plan for the provider in the notes section during the final step of the booking process. Moreover, if your provider uses Zocdoc's Intake forms, you may add secondary insurance while filling out your forms online. For further insurance-related FAQs, refer to Zocdoc's Patient Help Center. 

Every provider on Zocdoc has a dedicated profile. These profiles include essential information like educational qualifications, board certifications, clinical interests, and expertise. Reading user ratings and verified reviews helps you make an informed decision before booking a doctor's appointment. Moreover, Zocdoc also provides you with the convenience of booking virtual appointments.

Locating the best interventional radiologists near you is now easier! All Zocdoc bookings are simple, secure, and 100% free!

Statistics related to interventional radiology

A 2021 analysis of the Association of American Medical Colleges workforce data calculated the number of interventional radiologists in the country to be around 3,500. Though the workforce is scarce, these doctors have delivered exceptional treatment for various conditions.

As per the American Cancer Society, the likely number of new cancer cases and deaths in the nation was about 1.9 million and 609,360, respectively, in 2022. 

According to the American Liver Foundation, cirrhosis was the 12th leading cause of death in the country in 2020, leading to roughly 51,642 deaths. 

Talking about spine health, nearly 8.2% of adults have severe back pain. About 74.8% of these people experience mobility, social or work participation, or self-care disabilities.

Sources

Johns Hopkins Medicine

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

RadiologyInfo.org

National Center for Biotechnology Information

RadioGraphics

American Cancer Society

American Liver Foundation

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health 

WebMD

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.