Rush interventional radiologists provide advanced, minimally invasive procedures to treat a wide range of conditions. Rush specialists use the latest imaging technology, reducing recovery times and improving outcomes for patients across Chicago and the surrounding area.
Interventional radiologists at Rush are nationally and globally recognized for their expertise in treating complex diseases. Our interventional radiologists have developed cutting-edge treatments and teach these procedures to others.
What Is Interventional Radiology?
Interventional radiology is a minimally invasive technique that can treat many conditions, including vascular diseases, such as peripheral artery disease, or PAD, and deep venous disease, or DVT. Interventional radiology can also treat mean cancers, many cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC, a type of liver cancer.
Expert interventional radiologists at Rush use real-time imaging to see inside your body and correct problems — without large incisions. Most procedures are outpatient interventions and often with minimal sedation required, meaning you’ll be able to go home the same day.
Incisions for interventional radiology procedures are often smaller than the tip of a pencil. Interventional radiologists then thread thin wires and specialized instruments through this incision, usually through an artery or vein.
Using the latest imaging technology, ultrasound and other tools, interventional radiologists can see and treat blocked blood vessels, tumors and other conditions. Depending on the procedure, they may apply heat or radiation energy to certain organs, shut down blood vessels at times and open vessels with stents at other times, to treat your condition to stop bleeding or to relieve pain.
Types of Interventional Radiology Procedures at Rush
Interventional radiology can treat a wide range of conditions, including vascular problems, some types of cancer, enlarged prostate, uterine fibroids, osteoarthritis, spine pain and more.
Vascular Conditions
Interventional radiologists provide life-saving care for peripheral artery disease and other vascular conditions.
Limb Preservation Services
Severe vascular conditions can threaten your limbs. Rush is a leader in limb preservation services, helping many patients avoid major amputation.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Treatment
Clots in your veins can become life-threatening. Interventional radiologists provide expert endovascular treatment to remove or dissolve blood clots or prevent them from traveling to your lungs and heart.
Cancer Treatment
Interventional radiologists provide innovative treatment options for liver cancer and other conditions, including radioembolization, chemoembolization, robotic-assisted ablation and histotripsy.
Prostate Embolization
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition that can lead to urinary problems. Prostate embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that can relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization
This minimally-invasive procedure can relieve pain and heavy menstrual bleeding caused by uterine fibroids.
Meet our interventional radiology team
Choosing Rush for Interventional Radiology
- Reduced recovery time: In many cases, vascular and interventional radiology procedures can replace or delay the need for open surgery. Because these procedures use tiny incisions, you’ll recover faster compared to open surgery. After many procedures, you will be able to go home the same or next day.
- Advanced, leading-edge care: Rush’s board-certified interventional radiologists are experts in complex cases, performing thousands of procedures each year. Our team includes internationally renowned interventional radiologists who have helped pioneer many interventional techniques used today. Rush experts lead many clinical trials shaping the future of interventional radiology.
- New robotic-assisted technology: Rush offers advanced interventional radiology options you won’t find elsewhere. Rush University Medical Center is the first health center in the Midwest to use Quantum Surgical’s Epione platform. This robotic technology allows interventional radiologists to shrink small abdominal tumors with high precision. With this technology, they can treat patients and send them home, often the same day, with just a small bandage.
- Collaboration with Rush surgeons and specialists: Interventional radiologists work closely with other physicians at Rush, including oncologists, cardiovascular/thoracic surgeons, gastrointestinal specialists, general surgeons and nephrologists. They’ll develop a personalized treatment plan for you.
- Convenient access: Rush interventional radiologists offer clinic appointments in Chicago, Aurora and Oak Park. If you have a procedure in Chicago, you can schedule follow-up care where it is convenient for you.
FAQs About Interventional Radiology
Rush interventional radiologists can treat many conditions, including aortic aneurysms, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, PAD, uterine fibroids, enlarged prostates, knee osteoarthritis, deep vein thrombosis, pelvic congestion syndrome and more.
Interventional radiologists use real-time imaging to treat conditions without the need for large incisions. Your provider will access the area to be treated through a small incision, often in an artery or vein. These incisions are smaller than the tip of a pencil.
Because interventional radiology uses tiny incisions, you will have less pain, a shorter recovery period and fewer risks of complications than with traditional surgery.
Common interventional radiology procedures at Rush include angioplasty, atherectomy, biopsies, embolization, stent placement, uterine fibroid embolization, prostate artery embolization, genicular artery embolization, tumor ablation and thrombolysis.
You can schedule an appointment with an interventional radiologist by calling (888) 352-7874. You can also request an appointment with the provider you would like to visit through their profile. Existing Rush patients can also schedule through MyChart.
Your recovery will depend on the type of procedure you have. After outpatient interventional radiology procedures, you will be able to return home the same day. For other procedures, you will likely be able to go home the next day.
You will likely be able to return to some activities within 24 to 48 hours. Most patients can return to work within a few days.
No, you do not need a referral to see Rush interventional radiologists. Your insurer may require you to get a referral before covering a visit with an interventional radiologist.
Yes, insurance covers many interventional radiology procedures.
Rush interventional radiology experts will work to create a personalized treatment plan for you. Request an appointment with our interventional radiology team to learn if a procedure is right for you.
