Interventional Radiology (IR) is a subspecialty of Radiology where minimally-invasive image-guided procedures are used to diagnose and treat diseases in nearly every organ system. MakatiMed Interventional Radiologists are certified by the Philippine Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.
Expertise of an Interventional Radiologist include interpretation of diagnostic images (Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), radiographs, and ultrasound) and manipulation of special instruments (catheters, needles, and wires) in the body through imaging guidance. IR procedures use the least invasive techniques available to diagnose, treat, and improve the health outcomes among patients. The procedures usually have less risks, pain, recovery time, and can be done using local anesthesia.
For complex procedures, these may require sedation or general anesthesia, an intravenous contrast agent (used for medical imaging) may also be used, and patient admission may be warranted for medical clearance and observation.
Services Offered:
Embolization aims to treat, decrease the size, or control the growth of vascular tumors or malformations. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of medication directly into the tumor. These procedures are done under fluoroscopy and ultrasound guidance.
Embolization can also be done in cases of visceral bleeding such as bleeding ulcers.
It is commonly performed to treat pleural effusions and ascites (fluid buildup in the chest and abdomen). This can be also used to treat abscesses using needles and wires, a small drainage catheter is placed within the chest or abdominal cavity. This procedure is intended to accelerate recovery in conjunction with antibiotic therapy.
Percutaneous drainage may also be done for other fluid buildups in the body including large liver and kidney cysts or post-surgical seromas (pockets of fluid).
Spinal injection procedures can be performed accurately through fluoroscopic or CT guidance. Medications (usually an anesthetic and steroid) are injected along the nerve root or joint space to help control pain.
Radiographic guidance for selective nerve blocks and epidural injections allows accurate needle placement and reduces the procedure time.
Celiac plexus block involves the injection of a medication (usually a sclerosing agent and anesthetic) to help relieve abdominal pain, commonly due to cancer or chronic pancreatitis.
Radiofrequency (RF) rhizotomy or neurotomy is a minimally-invasive procedure designed to decrease and/or eliminate pain secondary to degenerative facet joints of the spine. The procedure involves the use of special heat-generating needles to destroy the nerves that supply the facet joints.
Tumor ablation is a minimally-invasive procedure that uses special needles to treat solid cancers. These needles include radiofrequency needles and microwave antennae, used to burn the tumors without surgery, under CT or ultrasound guidance.
Tumor embolization involves the use of X-rays or fluoroscopy to guide needles and wires into the arteries that supply blood to a tumor. This is most commonly done for liver tumors. Several materials can be used to treat a tumor including beads, coils, and Lipiodol (medical oil-based embolic agent). Liver chemoembolization usually involves injection of a chemotherapeutic drug together with the embolic agent. Embolization can also be done to control bleeding tumors or prior to a surgery to decrease blood loss.
Radioembolization or Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) uses the same technique as tumor embolization but special radioactive beads are injected into the liver tumor.
Chairperson of the Department of Radiology:
Jackson U. Dy, MD
Section Head:
Alvin Constantine T. Tin, MD