Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology
IVR (interventional radiology) is also known as image-guided treatment. It is a new system of treatment in which lesions are approached using catheters (thin tubes) or needles while the inside of the body is monitored in real time with imaging equipment such as X-ray fluoroscopy, angiography, ultrasound, and CT.
Its greatest feature is its minimal invasiveness: it does not involve large surgical incisions and, in many cases, does not require general anesthesia. Because the burden on the body is very small and only the lesion can be targeted with precision, same-day treatment and shorter hospital stays are also possible.
Even for elderly patients or those with concerns about their general condition, we propose the most suitable treatment based on appropriate imaging diagnosis and the course of previous treatments.
IVR is broadly divided into "vascular" and "non-vascular" procedures according to the method of approach.
Treatment is performed by inserting a catheter (a thin tube passed through a blood vessel), mainly from vessels in the groin or upper limbs. Working through the blood vessels, we can address a wide variety of conditions: occluding the vessels that feed tumors arising anywhere in the body—such as the liver, kidneys, lymph nodes, breast, peritoneum, and pelvic organs (uterus, bladder, prostate)—with embolic materials such as small particles or with balloon catheters; injecting high-concentration anticancer drugs; and widening narrowed vessels and placing metallic mesh tubes called stents.
These procedures are based on a technique called puncture, in which a needle is inserted directly into the lesion while its position is confirmed on images, mainly using real-time CT imaging (CT fluoroscopy) or ultrasound. They include local cancer treatment by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (lung, liver, kidney, breast, lymph nodes, intra-abdominal, pelvic, etc.), as well as drainage treatment, in which a tube is placed for diseases of non-vascular "ducts" such as the biliary tract and gastrointestinal tract. Biopsy, in which tissue is collected while the position is confirmed with ultrasound or CT, is also part of non-vascular IVR and important for accurate diagnosis.
IVR treatments include those covered by public health insurance ("insured medical care") and those paid entirely out of pocket ("non-insured medical care"). Coverage varies depending on the disease, the treatment, the site of the lesion, and other factors, so please contact us directly for details.
To determine the most appropriate treatment plan, we ask you to provide medical information showing your history to date (such as a referral letter and imaging data) before your consultation. For details, please see the information on "Documents to Send in Advance."
Based on the materials you provide and a medical interview, our specialists assess whether IVR is indicated. We explain in detail the expected therapeutic effects, possible side effects, duration, costs, and other matters, and proceed to treatment only after you are fully satisfied with the explanation. Even if you have provided images in advance, we may ask you to undergo additional examinations such as CT or MRI on the day of your visit for a more detailed evaluation.
Multiple physicians and specialized staff examine and plan the most suitable treatment technique for each patient's condition from multiple perspectives.
So that you can undergo treatment with peace of mind, a detailed review is carried out by a single team consisting of IVR specialists together with experienced board-certified anesthesiologists, interventional nursing experts (INE), and clinical radiological technologists.
Since the treatment itself is completed in a few hours, many procedures can be performed on a same-day basis; however, for safety, we also provide treatment with hospitalization when necessary.
In the case of hospitalization, you will be admitted to a designated hospital after the treatment is completed.
Depending on the procedure, it is also possible to stay at a hotel nearby or in Osaka, Kobe, or Nishinomiya before and after treatment. Please ask our staff for details at your first visit.
Vascular IVR (catheter treatment) is performed in a dedicated angiography room, and non-vascular IVR (such as RFA and biopsy) is performed in the CT room or the angiography room.
After the procedure, you will need to rest for several hours in the dedicated recovery room on the second floor of our clinic. In many cases, you can drink and eat from the same day and a relatively quick recovery can be expected, although the degree of recovery varies from person to person.
Treatment is completed after we confirm that there are no postoperative complications.
A detailed explanation of the results is given at a later date based on follow-up imaging. In the case of hospitalization, you will be admitted to Meiwa Hospital after the treatment; after discharge, we continuously check your condition and evaluate the treatment effect at our clinic while following your progress through regular consultations and imaging examinations.
