Interventional radiology doctors play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases through minimally invasive procedures performed under imaging guidance. Liver tumors, varicocele, uterine fibroids, peripheral vascular occlusions, cerebrovascular diseases (e.g., aneurysm, AVM), bile duct and urinary tract obstructions, lung nodules, kidney cysts, intravascular clots (DVT), port catheter placement, tumor biopsies, and treatments such as ablation or embolization in certain types of cancer fall within this specialty.

Patients with vascular occlusion, varicose veins, liver tumor, thyroid nodule, aneurysm, hemangioma, lower back or neck hernia, complaints due to joint degeneration, or a need for biopsy are generally referred to interventional radiology specialists.

While surgeons intervene with open surgery, interventional radiologists shorten the recovery time by applying treatment under imaging guidance through entry points the size of a needle hole. Anesthesia is not required, and patients are discharged the same day.

Interventional radiology doctors use advanced imaging techniques such as ultrasonography (USG), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluoroscopy (live X-ray imaging), and angiography. These methods enable minimally invasive procedures such as vascular access, biopsy, tumor treatments, and clearing obstructions to be performed accurately and safely.

A referral to an interventional radiology doctor is usually made by the specialist physician the patient first consults. Patients evaluated in fields such as oncology, gastroenterology, urology, orthopedics, cardiology, neurology, or general surgery and who require minimally invasive intervention are referred to interventional radiology in line with appropriate imaging and laboratory findings. The referral process takes place as an application to the interventional radiology unit together with a consultation request, a discharge summary report, and the results of the necessary tests.

In life-threatening situations such as acute vascular occlusion, internal bleeding, aneurysm bleeding in a cerebral vessel or pulmonary embolism, and coughing up blood, the interventional radiologist intervenes rapidly.

Interventional radiology doctors play an active role in the treatment of various types of cancer such as liver (hepatocellular carcinoma, metastases), kidney, lung, pancreas, and bone tumors. The main treatment methods applied in this specialty include **embolization (e.g., TACE, Y-90)**, which shrinks tumors by blocking tumor vessels, **ablation (e.g., RFA, MWA, cryoablation)**, which destroys cancer cells using high heat or freezing, and procedures that support chemotherapy such as port catheter placement. These methods often provide an effective alternative, especially in patients who are not suitable for surgery.

Yes, interventional radiologists offer the advantages of less pain, a shorter hospital stay, and rapid recovery by treating diseases via needle or catheter without the need for surgery.

After medical school, 5 years of radiology residency is required, followed by 2 years of training in interventional radiology. Thus, physicians specialized in this field perform treatments under advanced imaging guidance.

Interventional neuroradiology doctors play a role in the diagnosis and treatment of brain, spinal cord, and intracranial vascular diseases. Aneurysm (vascular ballooning), arteriovenous malformation (AVM), brain hemorrhages, vascular occlusions and stroke (paralysis), carotid and vertebral artery stenosis, dural fistulas, embolization for brain tumors, spinal vascular anomalies, spinal hemorrhages, and procedures for spinal fractures such as vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty fall within this field. In the treatment of these diseases, minimally invasive techniques are applied under the guidance of angiography and other imaging methods.

Interventional neuroradiology doctors perform minimally invasive interventional procedures such as coiling and stenting of brain aneurysms, embolization of arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and dural fistulas, mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke treatment, stenting in carotid and vertebral artery stenosis, preoperative embolization for brain tumors, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in spinal fractures, treatment of spinal vascular malformations, and biopsy and drainage procedures for the brain and spinal cord region. These procedures are generally performed under the guidance of imaging techniques such as angiography and carry a lower risk compared to surgery.

Yes, interventional neuroradiological procedures can also be performed in children due to congenital cerebral vascular malformations, especially vein of Galen malformation, tumors, or spinal problems.

While a neurosurgeon intervenes with open surgery, an interventional neuroradiologist enters through the vessels and applies treatment under imaging guidance. This method is less invasive and shortens the recovery time.