Interventional Oncology Specialist

What is interventional oncology?

Interventional oncology is a group of minimally invasive procedures that use imaging guidance to diagnose and treat cancer. Because interventional oncology is far less invasive than traditional surgery, these procedures can maximize results while minimizing discomfort and avoiding hospital time.

Interventional oncology provides effective solutions for people with lung, kidney, colon, liver, bone, and other types of cancer. 

What are the options in interventional oncology?

South Florida Vascular Associates offers a variety of minimally invasive interventional oncology procedures, including: 

Venous access device placement

A venous access device is a thin tube (a catheter) that goes directly into a vein. It creates an entry point for medication, fluids, or other therapies that are part of your cancer treatment. 

For example, many people with cancer need a venous access device because chemotherapy drugs can damage and weaken arm veins. 

Percutaneous ablation

Percutaneous ablation is a procedure to destroy liver, bone, or kidney tumors. During this procedure, the team uses either ultrasound or X-ray guidance to precisely position a probe directly into a tumor.

The safe and reliable procedure is just as effective as traditional surgery for smaller tumors and may even cure cancer with a few localized lesions. With bone tumors, the team typically also performs a procedure to improve bone strength and prevent fractures.

Chemoembolization

Chemoembolization is a procedure to deliver a large amount of chemotherapy drugs directly into liver tumors. At the same time, a blocking agent goes into the blood vessels that supply the tumor with blood.

The approach helps to effectively eliminate the tumor while avoiding damage to healthy tissues and preventing the side-effects of standard intravenous (IV) chemotherapy.

Radioembolization

Radioembolization is a procedure to place radioactive beads directly into liver tumors. The procedure is for late-stage liver cancer and is best suited for people who aren’t good candidates for chemoembolization of percutaneous ablation.

Radioembolization gives you a high dose of therapeutic radiation without damaging nearby organs.

Percutaneous kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty

Percutaneous kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are procedures that restore spinal vertebral fractures caused by bone tumors. In percutaneous kyphoplasty, a small balloon inflates a collapsed vertebrae and it’s filled with bone cement. Vertebroplasty is a similar procedure but doesn’t use the balloon.

After percutaneous ablation for bone tumors, it’s common to have either a percutaneous kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty to reinforce the affected bone and prevent fractures in the future.

Transcatheter embolization

Transcatheter embolization is a procedure to treat kidney cancer. During the procedure, an injected occluding agent cuts off the tumor’s blood supply. 

Transcatheter embolization is often the first step for large kidney tumors that have a significant blood supply. Then, an ablation destroys the tumor.

The South Florida Vascular Associates team recommends the interventional oncology procedure or combination of procedures that best suits your needs. 

How does sedation for interventional radiology procedures work?

South Florida Vascular Associates performs interventional radiology procedures in their advanced surgery suite. Most procedures involve conscious sedation, so you’ll remain awake but comfortable during the procedure. You can return home after a short period in a recovery area.

To schedule your interventional radiology procedure, call South Florida Vascular Associates or book an appointment online now.