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Medical Disclaimer 

The information on this web site is for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for a medical evaluation. If you feel that medical interventions are necessary, please check with your physician.

Vascular and Interventional Radiology is a sub-specialty of Diagnostic Radiology that crosses all fields of medicine. Minimally-invasive Image Guided Surgery is how some refer to the specialty. Procedures performed by us are not limited to any particular organ system. Procedures are traditionally grouped into vascular and non-vascular interventions. Vascular procedures will involve the arteries or veins usually treating obstructions to normal flow. Non-vascular procedures commonly involve biopsy of masses, drainage of infected collections or relieving obstructions to normal flow of bile or urine.

Liver Disease

Chemoembolization, Selective Internal Radiation Therapy and Percutaneous Radio-Frequency Ablation are all possible therapeutic approaches for the treatment of metastatic disease to the liver. More information.

Uterine Artery Embolization

Leiomyomata (uterine fibroids) are commonly found in women by the age of 35. If they get large enough, they can cause symptoms of pelvic pain and pressure on adjacent abdominal organs. The traditional treatment of uterine fibroids has been hysterectomy in women who have completed their childbearing. 

Several clinical studies of uterine artery embolization have been reported from France, Great Britain and the United States, involving women with large uterine leiomyomas.  Uterine artery embolization in these series has shown a significant reduction in size of the individual fibroids and consequently the entire uterus without involving a surgical procedure. More Information on Uterine Artery Embolization
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Ovarian Vein Embolization for Pelvic Congestion Syndrome. 

Pelvic pain can occur for many reasons other than uterine fibroids.  First line therapy is a thorough evaluation by your gynecologist.  Sometimes no clear etiology can be found.  A subset of these women will notice a particular pattern associated with their pain.  Their pain worsens toward the end of the day or after prolonged standing.  Some also notice pain worsening around the time of their menses and/or have pain during intercourse.  Many of these women have also noticed that their pain did not really begin until after childbirth. 

This group of women may be suffering from pelvic congestion syndrome.  Pain in these patients occurs because dilated (congested) veins within the pelvis place pressure on adjacent nerves.  Venous congestion worsens with prolonged standing and with changes in your normal hormonal cycle.  Some women will also have visible changes in the small veins around the thighs. 

The diagnosis can be made by performing a special study to look for congested veins in the pelvis called a venogram.  The most commonly affected vein is called the ovarian vein.  If this vein is abnormal it can be treated by occluding or plugging it up using a technique called embolization. 

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 Interventions in Atherosclerotic Disease

Atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries" can affect all parts of the body - not just the heart. Common symptoms that occur when it affects the arteries of the legs or arms include pain with walking or weakness. The diagnosis is easily made based on your past medical history, current symptoms and physical exam. The diagnosis can be confirmed by simple non-invasive measures of blood pressures or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). These diagnotic studies can be scheduled directly or through your primary care doctors office. Once the diagnosis is made and the specific anatomic abnormality found a therapeutic plan can be made. Surgical, non-surgical or combination therapies may be in order and all options will be discussed with you. If appropriate, minimally invasive balloon angioplasty or stent placement can be performed in our angiography suites.