Interventional Radiology
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Radiology Referrals
CHOC has the most advanced imaging equipment available, calibrated just for kids. We’re proud to be the first in Orange County to offer pediatric interventional radiology (IR). From blood clots to tumors, IR treats the toughest medical problems no matter how big or small.
The CHOC Difference
- CHOC has been designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence® (DICOE) by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for best-quality imaging practices and diagnostic care.
- CHOC uses only board-certified pediatric radiologists and specially trained pediatric radiology technologists, nurses and child life specialists.
- All radiology staff undergo age-specific training annually to learn how to work and communicate with children of varying ages.
- We are only one of a few medical centers in the country to have child life specialists working in a dedicated pediatric radiology and imaging department.
What is interventional radiology?
Interventional Radiology, or IR, uses imaging (e.g. X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, or MRI) to help doctors do procedures inside the body without large cuts or surgery.
Doctors use small tools like catheters (thin tubes), needles, or stents (tiny supports) to treat different conditions. These tools are guided through the body using images from the scans.
IR procedures are done by interventional radiologists—special doctors trained in both reading medical images and doing these procedures.
When is an interventional radiology procedure needed?
Interventional radiology is often recommended when it offers a safer or more effective alternative to traditional surgery, or when other treatments are not enough. Because IR uses imaging to guide treatment, it allows doctors to target problems with precision while avoiding damage to healthy tissue.
Conditions IR Can Treat
IR can help with a wide variety of health issues. It may be used to:
- Improve blood flow: Balloons or stents can open narrowed arteries, while special tools or medicine can dissolve blood clots.
- Treat abnormal vessels or blockages: Coils, glue, or medication can shrink abnormal blood vessels; tubes or stents can restore flow in blocked ducts.
- Drain fluid buildup: Abscesses or cysts can be safely drained using a small tube.
- Target tumors: Chemotherapy, radiation, or ablation (using heat or cold) can be delivered directly to tumors while protecting healthy areas.
- Support the kidneys or uterus: Tubes can help drain urine if the kidneys are blocked, or blood supply to uterine fibroids can be cut off to shrink them.
Diagnosis and Emergency Care
IR is also valuable in diagnosing conditions. Using imaging, doctors can guide a needle for a biopsy or inject dye to capture detailed pictures of blood vessels (angiography). In urgent situations, IR can stop internal bleeding or quickly restore blood flow during a stroke.
What are common pediatric IR procedures?
Interventional radiology can help with a wide range of conditions in children. Some of the most common procedures include:
- Tumor treatments: In rare childhood cancers such as liver tumors, IR offers targeted options with low complication rates (5-10%).
- Placing IV lines (PICC lines or ports): Often needed for long-term treatments such as chemotherapy, with very low complication rates.
- Embolization: Used to treat abnormal blood vessels, with only minor issues (like bruising) occurring in a small percentage of cases.
- Biopsies or fluid drainage: Simple procedures with low risks of infection or bleeding.
Why Choose IR?
Patients may benefit from IR when surgery is too risky, when a faster recovery is important, or when treatment needs to be extremely precise.
Who performs the IR procedure?
IR procedures are done by interventional radiologists. These are doctors who:
- Go through medical school
- Complete a radiology residency (about 5 years)
- Get extra training (a fellowship) in interventional radiology (1–2 years)
Interventional radiologists use advanced scans and real-time images to see inside the body and guide treatments with accuracy. Our team cares for many different types of cases and works closely with nurses, imaging specialists, and anesthesiologists to make sure patients are safe and comfortable throughout their procedure.
Is Interventional Radiology (IR) Safe for Kids?
Yes. When performed by pediatric specialists, interventional radiology is considered safe for children. In fact, it can often be a better choice than surgery because it is less invasive, usually less painful, and allows for faster recovery with shorter hospital stays.
Why children need special care
Children’s bodies are still growing, which means their organs are more sensitive to radiation and their smaller size requires extra precision. Pediatric interventional radiologists are specially trained to account for these differences. They use child-sized equipment, tailor treatments to each stage of growth, and often rely on low-dose or radiation-free tools like ultrasound whenever possible. Pediatric anesthesiologists also carefully manage sedation to keep children safe and comfortable.
Additional considerations
Because children’s kidneys are more delicate, the special dye used during procedures is carefully managed, especially for newborns or kids with kidney conditions. Every step of care is designed to protect their development and long-term health.
