Radiologic imaging is a technic used by interventional radiologists to treat conditions in the vascular system. This technique uses images of your internal body structure to determine the type of treatment that should occur when you have a vascular disorder. Also taken into consideration are pre-procedural planning and imaging.
According to Health Images, diagnostic imaging, or radiology, is a group of procedures involving photos of various body parts. Radiation is used to both make an accurate diagnosis in the fields of diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology.
- Diagnostic radiology: this technology uses imaging to obtain images inside the body. Diagnostic radiologists then use these images to diagnose injuries and diseases.
- Interventional radiology: is a medical procedure used by specialists for imaging procedures that obtain pictures from inside your body. The technique is then used to interpret these images to diagnose injuries and diseases and perform life-saving medical functions.
There are different imaging exams. The most common of these include x-rays, ultrasounds, MRI, CT, and PET scans. A radiologist interprets the outcome of imaging tests to evaluate and support a diagnosis.
Types of Radiologic Imaging
There are a number of radiologic imaging types:
- CT scan (computed axial tomography or CAT scan): This is a non-intrusive medical examination that creates multiple images or photographs of the inside of the body using specialized X-ray equipment and cutting-edge computers.
- CT lung cancer screening: This screening is a low-dose scan of your lungs used to detect lung cancer.
- Ultrasound: This medical procedure, also known as sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves and a pc to produce images of the organs, tissues, and circulatory system.
- Virtual colonoscopy: This medical imaging technique creates 2D and three-dimensional images of the digestive tract that you can view on a video feed using CT scanning and sophisticated computer software.
- Fluoroscopy: This is a medical procedure wherein the part of the body under analysis undergoes exposure to sustained X-ray beams, which then transfer to a screen that resembles a television to see, in detail, the body part and its movements.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan: A non-invasive medical examination that takes images from inside your body using a powerful magnet and a computer.
- X Rays (radiographs): A medical procedure to create images of your internal organs, vertebrae, and tissues on film using invisible electromagnetic energy waves.
Uses of Radiologic Images
Different radiologic imaging technologies are necessary because other conditions affect different body parts.
The most helpful imaging techniques and a few standard procedures are as follows.
Embolization
According to the Center for Vascular Medicine, embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces blood flow to target areas. It protects your tissues and controls problematic blood loss while maintaining the normal flow of blood in the surrounding areas.
Embolism is the definition of a blocked blood vessel. On the other hand, obstructing a blood vessel on purpose for medical reasons is an embolization procedure.
Embolization procedure for:
- Abnormal bleeding restriction or mitigation
- Cutting off blood supply to a tumor
- Repairing a vein’s an artery’s abnormal connections
- Managing aneurysms
- Shrinking the size of your veins that are not straight or tangled to lessen pain and swelling
Arterial Revascularization
Non-invasive vascular exams enable doctors to choose the best course of treatment before procedures take place on the legs. Ultrasound is the most frequently used method. Since the leg blood vessels don’t have any overlying organs that could limit accessibility, ultrasound radiologic imaging easily sees the blood vessels in the legs. The process facilitates quick and simple qualification and evaluation.
PVR, or pulse volume recording, also assesses the blood vessels’ efficiency. PVR detects artery disease and assesses treatment response after a procedure. This uses a series of blood pressure cuff metrics at various sites on the legs. Following treatments, PVR tests check to see if any blockages have recurred.
Vein Evaluation
This is a technique that detects the functionality of your veins. It is dependent on the veins that need treatment. For legs, ultrasound is sufficient since there are no overlying organs. For pelvic vein problems (varicocele, May-Thurner Syndrome, pelvic congestion syndrome), cross-sectional radiologic imaging is necessary to examine how badly the pelvic disease has progressed.
Importance of Interventional radiology
For patients who might otherwise require open surgery, interventional radiology lowers costs, recovery times, pain, and risks. As a result, IR has replaced other treatment options for many different conditions.
The range of therapies that IR can successfully deliver is constantly evolving and growing.
Some of the procedures that take advantage of interventional radiology include:
- Angioplasty- repairing or unblocking blood vessels
- Stenting- treats narrow and weak arteries
- Thrombolysis- dissolves blood clots
- Embolization- blocks the flow of blood to cancer cells
- Radiofrequency ablation- reduces pain in the nerves
- Biopsies- used in studying tissues