Who Are Interventional Radiologists?

Many of you may not be familiar with Interventional Radiology (IR) or who an Interventional Radiologist is so we would like to take this time to explain more about this amazing specialty that offers alternatives to traditional open surgery.

Interventional Radiologists (IR) are board-certified physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments performed using medical imaging to guide them. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments and are actually pioneers in minimally invasive procedures. IR’s use X-rays, MRI and other imaging technology to advance a catheter through an artery in the body to treat a disease internally. The main focus of Interventional Radiology is to diagnose and treat patients using the least invasive techniques available.

Our highly specialized interventional radiologists at South Florida Vascular Associates, Dr. William Julien and Dr. Curtis Anderson perform endovascular procedures through tiny incisions using thin catheters, wires, balloons and other medical devices in place of scalpels and large incisions used during traditional surgery. Most of the procedures are performed in our out-patient, office-based operating suite with no general anesthesia, no large incisions, shorter recovery time and the patient goes home the same day. Minimally invasive procedures minimize risk to the patient, improve outcomes, and eliminate long hospital stays.

Interventional Radiologists are capable of performing a variety of procedures that treat a wide range of diseases from hypertension or cancer to blood clots, uterine fibroids, varicoceles, peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, gastrointestinal disease, and venous insufficiency.

Many conditions that once required open surgery can now be treated non-surgically by Interventional Radiologists.

To learn more visit our website at www.southfloridavascular.com.

SFVA Offers Outpatient, Minimally Invasive, Chemoembolization for Malignant Tumors of the Liver

Cancer of the liver is on the rise in the U.S. and is becoming more common due to such factors as Hepatitis C and another condition called non-alcohol fatty liver disease.  Physicians at South Florida Vascular Associates now offer a minimally invasive treatment, chemoembolization, used for malignant tumors of the liver, performed by a specialty-trained, interventional oncologist in our outpatient surgical suite, under conscious sedation.

Chemoembolization delivers large, highly concentrated doses of cancer drugs directly to liver tumors while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues, without most of the negative side effects of traditional intravenous chemotherapy.

During this procedure our interventional oncologist uses image guided technology to place a small catheter from the blood vessel in your groin into the artery that supplies blood to the liver. Anti-cancer drugs are then delivered through the catheter directly into the tumor causing the tumor to slow or stop growing and in some cases, can even result in significant shrinkage of the tumor. This method of delivering large doses of chemotherapy directly to the liver tumor has shown positive results in patients who are not candidates for standard therapy.

The treatment is most beneficial to patients whose disease is predominantly limited to the liver, whether the tumor began in the liver or has spread to the liver from another organ.

If you have liver cancer, think that you might be a candidate for chemoembolization and would like additional information, please call our office today to set up a consultation. Call 954-725-4141.