Image-guided interventions for a wide range of conditions
Interventional radiology uses medical imaging — X-ray, ultrasound, CT, and MRI — to guide minimally invasive procedures. Most procedures require only a small nick in the skin rather than a large incision, meaning less pain, shorter recovery, and excellent outcomes.
Peripheral Vascular Interventions
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects the arteries that carry blood to the legs and feet. When medical management is insufficient, image-guided procedures can restore blood flow and prevent limb loss.
Procedures include:
- Balloon angioplasty and stent placement for arterial stenosis or occlusion
- Catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute limb ischaemia
- Venoplasty and venous stenting for DVT and venous insufficiency
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and retrieval
- Dialysis access interventions and PICC line insertion
Uterine Fibroid Embolisation (UFE)
UFE is a highly effective, uterus-sparing treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids. A small catheter is guided into the arteries feeding the fibroids, which are then blocked — causing the fibroids to shrink over time.
Benefits of UFE over surgery:
- No general anaesthetic required
- Uterus preserved — no hysterectomy
- Day procedure or 1 night hospital stay
- Return to normal activities within 1–2 weeks
- Highly effective at relieving heavy bleeding and pelvic pain
Tumour Ablation — RFA & Microwave
Tumour ablation uses extreme heat (or cold) delivered through a needle under CT guidance to destroy tumours. It is a safe, highly effective alternative to surgery for selected patients with liver, kidney, and lung tumours.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA)
- Liver, renal, and pulmonary tumours
- Curative intent or palliative symptom control
- Can be repeated if new tumours develop
- Day procedure or short stay
TACE & TARE (Y-90)
Transarterial embolisation techniques deliver treatment directly to liver tumours via the hepatic artery, sparing normal liver tissue.
- TACE — combines chemotherapy and embolisation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases
- TARE / Y-90 — radioembolisation using tiny yttrium-90 microspheres; effective for HCC and colorectal liver metastases
- Performed under light sedation as a day procedure
- Used as bridging therapy prior to liver transplantation
MSK & Pain Interventions
Image-guided musculoskeletal and pain procedures offer precise, targeted treatment for patients suffering from chronic spinal and joint pain.
- CT-guided nerve blocks and facet joint injections
- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures
- Coeliac plexus and splanchnic nerve blocks for abdominal pain
- Ultrasound-guided joint and bursal injections
- Radiofrequency ablation for bone and soft-tissue pain
Biopsies & Drainages
Guided biopsies and drainages are safe, accurate, and avoid the need for open surgery or general anaesthesia in most cases.
- CT and ultrasound guided core needle biopsies (liver, kidney, lymph node, lung, soft tissue)
- Percutaneous abscess and collection drainage
- Pleural and pericardial drainage
- Nephrostomy tube insertion
- Biliary drain placement and ureteric stent exchange
- Ascites drain insertion