Procedures performed by
interventional radiologists are being increasingly used
in the care of patients with cancer. These specially
trained physicians use X-rays, ultrasound or other
imaging techniques to guide small tubes called catheters
and miniature tools directly to the site of the disease.
Interventional radiology procedures for patients with
cancer include new approaches for treatment, relieving
symptoms and diagnosing cancer without surgical biopsy.
The following information was prepared by
the Society of Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology
(SIR) to provide information about techniques used by
interventional radiologists in the diagnosis and treatment of
cancer and its symptoms.
Overview
How are cancers diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosing cancer.
There are a number of tests that can help in the
diagnosis of cancer, including blood tests, physical
examination and a variety of imaging techniques including
X-rays (e.g., chest X-rays and mammograms); computed
tomography (CT); magnetic resonance (MR) and ultrasound.
Usually, however, the final diagnosis cannot be made
until a biopsy is performed. In a biopsy, a sample of
tissue from the tumor or other abnormality is obtained
and examined by a pathologist. Open surgery is sometimes
performed to obtain a tissue sample for biopsy. But in
most cases, tissue samples can be obtained without open
surgery with interventional radiology techniques.
 |
 |
|
Microscopic view of cancer cells found in tissue obtained during a biopsy |
Treating cancer. The
decision made by a patient and physician about how best to treat
a cancer depends on a number of factors, including the type of
cancer, how advanced the disease is (sometimes referred to as the
cancer "stage") other health problems that the patient
may have and the preference of the patient.
The most common
treatments are:
- surgery to remove the cancer
- the administration of cancer-killing drugs (chemotherapy)
- radiation therapy, which kills cancer cells with doses of radiation.
In some cases, new interventional
radiology procedures can be used to deliver
cancer-fighting therapy directly to the site of the
tumor. Using moving X-ray pictures to guide them,
interventional radiologists insert miniature devices into
blood vessels or other body parts through a small nick in
the skin and guide them to the site of the cancer.
Cancer-killing therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation,
heat and cold, are then delivered to the tumor.
Interventional radiologists use special X-ray equipment to guide therapy directly to the site of tumors
|
How can
interventional radiology improve the diagnosis and treatment of
cancer?
Many interventional radiology procedures
for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can be performed on an
outpatient basis or during a short hospital stay. In many cases,
the procedures:
- offer new cancer treatment options
- are less painful and debilitating for patients
- result in quicker recoveries
- have fewer side effects and complications.
|
