Are you considering a minimally-invasive BPH treatment? If so, you should know about the doctors who perform these treatments: interventional radiologists. But what is an interventional radiologist? And what do they do? In this blog post, we will answer those questions and more. We will define interventional radiologists and explain their qualifications. We will list and explain some treatments performed by interventional radiologists, then list and explain treatments specific to BPH. Finally, we will describe why one should see an interventional radiologist for a minimally-invasive BPH treatment.

What is an interventional radiologist?

An interventional radiologist is a doctor who uses imaging guidance to diagnose and treat a range of conditions. Imaging guidance means that the interventional radiologist uses images (x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI scans) to guide them as they place a catheter (a thin tube) into your body. Once the catheter is in the right place, the interventional radiologist can then treat your condition using minimally-invasive procedures.

Interventional radiologists are medical doctors who are qualified to perform minimally-invasive procedures because they complete a four-year residency in diagnostic radiology and then an additional one- to two-year fellowship in interventional radiology. They can also become board certified under the American Board of Radiology. This training gives them the skills and experience they need to place catheters and perform minimally-invasive procedures safely and effectively.

Types of Procedures Performed

There are many different types of minimally-invasive procedures that interventional radiologists can perform, but some common ones include angioplasty, stenting, and thrombolysis.

• Angiography/Angioplasty: An angiography is an x-ray of the veins and arteries used to detect problems, where an angioplasty is a procedure used to open up blocked or narrowed blood vessels using a balloon-tipped catheter.
• Stent placement: A stent is a small, metal mesh tube that is placed in the blood vessel to keep it open.
• Thrombolysis is a procedure used to break up blood clots by injecting clot-dissolving medications.

These are just some of the procedures that interventional radiologists can perform. There are also many procedures specific to BPH that interventional radiologists can perform. These include:

• Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE): PAE is a minimally-invasive procedure where a catheter is guided through your groin artery into the blood vessels that supply blood to the prostate. Embolic material is then injected to decrease blood flow to the prostate in order to cause it to shrink.
• Transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT): TUMT is a minimally-invasive procedure that uses microwave energy to heat and destroy the excess prostate tissue causing BPH.
• Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP): TURP is a minimally-invasive procedure that removes the excess prostate tissue causing BPH through a resectoscope, which is a thin, lighted tube.

All of these procedures are minimally-invasive and have a very low risk of complications. That is one of the reasons why you should see an interventional radiologist for a minimally-invasive BPH treatment. Another reason to see an interventional radiologist is that they are experts in performing these procedures. When you see an interventional radiologist for a minimally-invasive BPH treatment, you can be confident that you are in good hands.

In Conclusion

In this blog post, we have answered the question: What is an interventional radiologist? We have defined interventional radiologists and explained their qualifications. We have also listed and explained some of the procedures that they can perform, including procedures specific to BPH. If you are considering a minimally-invasive BPH treatment, we hope this blog post has helped you understand what an interventional radiologist is and what they do. We encourage you to talk to your doctor about whether or not a minimally-invasive BPH treatment is right for you. And if it is, we encourage you to see an interventional radiologist for your procedure. You will be in good hands and can be confident that you are getting the best possible care.