Interventional radiology procedures at Penn Medicine
Interventional radiologists work alongside specialists in many clinical areas, including vascular medicine, cardiology, and oncology. This collaborative approach allows us to offer minimally invasive procedures for a wide range of diseases.
Embolization to is a procedure to block blood flow in a blood vessel. We may use it to stop internal bleeding or cut off the blood supply to a tumor or other abnormal mass.
Our interventional radiologists offer:
- Chemoembolization: treats cancer by cutting off the tumor’s blood supply
- PAVM embolization: uses a plug or coil to block blood flow to a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (abnormal connection between a vein and artery in the lungs)
- Prostate artery embolization: blocks blood flow to an enlarged prostate to shrink the gland and reduce urinary problems
- Uterine fibroid embolization: blocks blood flow to uterine fibroids (tumors in the uterus), relieving symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain
- Varicocele embolization: treats dilated blood vessels in the scrotum, which can lead to pain and infertility
DVT is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in your legs. The condition can be painful and may lead to a dangerous complication called pulmonary embolism (blood clot that blocks blood flow to your lungs). We offer medication and minimally invasive procedures for DVT.
An inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is a device we implant in the vein that brings blood from your lower body back to your heart. The device prevents dislodged blood clots from your legs from going into your lungs.
If you have a large clot in your legs, we may recommend DVT thrombolysis. This minimally invasive treatment uses a catheter to deliver clot-dissolving drugs directly to the blood clot.
We use a variety of techniques to create easier access to a vein for people who need hemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease. Our interventional radiologists specialize in venous access procedures using fistulas, grafts, and catheters. They also provide attentive monitoring and minimally invasive treatments to keep your access site working as it should.
Your lymphatic system supports your immune health and regulates fluid levels in your body by draining lymph (a milky fluid) from your tissues and returning it to your bloodstream. Certain disorders and medical complications can cause this fluid to leak or accumulate in certain areas of your body.
At Penn Medicine, we have been expertly diagnosing and treating lymphatic disorders in adults for more than two decades. The internationally recognized Penn Center for Lymphatic Disorders is one of only a few programs of its kind in the U.S.
Our radiologists use advanced imaging techniques to examine your lymphatic system. Lymphangiography uses a contrast dye and fluoroscopy (X-ray guidance) or MRI to find lymphatic fluid leaks as quickly as possible.
We can treat some lymphatic disorders using embolization, a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure. During lymphatic embolization, interventional radiologists use surgical glue, coils, or plugs (called embolic agents) to block lymphatic vessels and stop leaks.
Our interventional radiologists use a variety of catheter-guided techniques to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD) without major surgery. In PAD, narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your arms and legs and put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Minimally invasive PAD treatments include:
- Angioplasty: A tiny balloon is inflated inside a blocked blood vessel to restore blood flow.
- Stents: A metal cylinder is inserted into a clogged blood vessel to hold it open.
- Thrombolytic therapy: Drugs are injected directly into blood clots to dissolve them and restore blood flow.
TIPS is a procedure for people with severe liver disease and portal hypertension (high blood pressure in the veins that feed the liver). Interventional radiologists use stents (metal tubes) to connect two veins in your liver. This treatment relieves pressure and prevents complications such as bleeding or fluid build-up in your abdomen and lungs.
Tumor ablation uses heat, cold, or chemicals to destroy cancer cells. We may recommend ablation for liver, kidney, lung, or other types of cancer. Tumor ablation can shrink tumors and ease symptoms in people who aren’t candidates for surgery.
We offer a variety of treatments for enlarged veins in your legs, including endovenous laser ablation. In fact, interventional radiologists at Penn Medicine first developed this nonsurgical technique more than 25 years ago.
During this minimally invasive procedure, we use heat from a laser to shrink the swollen veins. It’s an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour and requires little, if any, downtime.