Frequently Asked Questions

What is Interventional Radiology?

What is the Difference Between a Surgeon and an Interventional Radiologist?

What radiological services do you provide?

What are the SRA office hours?

What is Interventional Radiology?

Interventional radiology is a rapidly growing area of medicine. Interventional radiologists are physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments performed using imaging guidance. Interventional radiology procedures are an advance in medicine that replace open surgical procedures. They are generally easier for the patient because they involve no large incisions, less risk, less pain and shorter recovery times.

What is the Difference Between a Surgeon and an Interventional Radiologist?

Interventional radiologists use sophisticated, state-of-the-art X-ray and other imaging devices to guide tiny catheters and other small tools through the body to treat disease without surgery. These tools enter the body through openings in the skin as small as the tip of a pencil. A traditional surgeon makes an incision to open up an area of the body, looks inside to determine what is wrong, fixes it and then closes the incision with stitches, staples, tape or other means. A minimally invasive surgeon makes a smaller incision, places a scope (a large metal tube) inside the body to determine what is wrong, fixes it and then closes the incision. An interventional radiologist is able to see inside the body of a patient without making a surgical incision but rather by using various X-ray and other imaging techniques.
The interventional radiologist makes a tiny nick in the skin about the size of the tip of a pencil, and guides a thin tube (catheter) and tiny, fine instruments to the site of a problem. The interventional radiologist then fixes the problem and removes the catheter and instruments. Stitches generally are not needed, and procedures rarely require general anesthesia.

What radiological services do you provide?

What are the SRA office hours?