Interventional Radiology: Healing Through Images

 By: Dhyan Patel

Interventional Radiology

Note: This article is part of a student-run educational series on medical specialties, based on research and/or shadowing (in person or virtual), in order to educate other students who are interested in healthcare careers and may lack the ability to shadow specialists in their areas.

Background

When most people think of going to the hospital for a surgery, they may often think that they may have to get large incisions done within their surgery, however, that isn’t always the case. A group of doctors known as interventional radiologists use imaging technology with minimally invasive procedures in order to treat diseases inside of the body. Instead of making large incisions, interventional radiologists use small needles, catheters, and imaging technology in order to diagnose and treat their patients with high accuracy. This often offers patients a faster recovery time, less pain, and few complications.

So, what do they do?

Interventional radiologists are physicians who are trained to use imaging tools such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, and ultrasounds in order to guide their instruments inside of the body. They perform procedures that can be done through a tiny incision.


They can perform a variety of treatments that include:

  • Angioplasty and stent placements in order to open blocked blood vessels to restore circulation.

  • Embolization, which stops internal bleeding or cuts off blood supply to tumors

  • Biopsies, which are taking small samples of tissues for diagnosis. 

  • Draining fluids

  • Treating cancer by delivering chemotherapy or radiation directly into tumors (known as interventional oncology)


Throughout their day they might begin with reviewing scans and planning their cases for the day, then they may move onto guiding procedures through images in order to stop internal bleeding or opening blocked arteries. The next day a patient may need a feeding tube placed under imaging guidance, and then after that they may be required in an emergency embolization in order to save someone. No day is the same for interventional radiologists.

Required education and training

In order to become an interventional radiologist, it takes a great deal of dedication and years of training. After earning their bachelor's degree typically in a science related major, interventional radiologists must complete four years of medical school. After that they must enter a six-year residency that includes diagnostic radiology and interventional training. During their residency, they learn to interpret medical images and perform complex procedures.

Importance

Interventional radiology remains important as it is drastically changing the ways doctors treat various problems such as cancer, kidney diseases, and more. Through this, patients often have shorter stays in the hospital, have smaller scars, and heal faster. Without interventional radiologists, these processes wouldn’t be possible, and we would still have to stick to large surgical processes. With them these processes can be possible, and this is why they are one of the most important types of doctors in the medical field.

References

Diagnostic Radiology & Imaging. (2025). The Most Common Interventional Radiology Procedures. Drihealthgroup.com. https://drihealthgroup.com/health-tips/most-common-interventional-radiology-procedures

Liv Hospital. (2025, October 30). 8 Essential Most Common Interventional Radiology Procedures You Should Know - Liv Hospital. Liv Hospital. https://int.livhospital.com/most-common-interventional-radiology-procedures/

Medschoolcoach. (2021, January 15). Interventional Radiology with Dr. Sahil Mehta - Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. Virtual Pre-Med Education by MedSchoolCoach. https://shadowing.medschoolcoach.com/lessons/interventional-radiology-with-dr-sahil-mehta/

Moriarty, C. (2025, April). What Is Interventional Radiology? Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/what-is-interventional-radiology

Northwestern University. (2025). Interventional Radiology Residency. Northwestern.edu. https://www.radiology.northwestern.edu/education/residents/interventional-radiology/index.html

Rope, K. (2020, July 6). What Is Interventional Radiology? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/cancer/what-is-interventional-radiology

Yale Medicine. (2025). Interventional Radiology. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/departments/interventional-radiology

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