Oncologic Interventions

Interventional oncology refers to the minimally invasive treatment of cancer tissue, often combining the latest treatment with imaging technology for highly concentrated and precisely targeted treatment of the diseased tissue. These procedures help eradicate tumors with minimal side effects, drastically improving a patient’s quality of life without the need for surgery.

Biopsy

A biopsy is most often performed on tissues to remove some of the suspicious cells from the targeted area for further examination under a microscope to determine whether or not they are cancerous. Biopsy is usually performed with imaging guidance to ensure that he doctor removes tissue from the correct area.

Tumor Ablation

Tumor ablation is performed to remove tumors of the liver, lungs, kidneys, bone and other soft tissue through minimally invasive, image-guided procedures.

There are several different types of ablation procedures to effectively remove a tumor and any associated cancerous cells. Radiofrequency ablation is one of the most common techniques, and uses heat energy to destroy cancer cells and remove them from the body. Radiofrequency ablation involves inserting a needle electrode into the skin at the site of the tumor, and then applying radiofrequency energy to heat and destroy the tumor.

Chemoembolization

Chemoembolization combines chemotherapy with a procedure called embolization, which causes an obstruction in the bloodstream and prevents blood from flowing to a tumor. During this procedure, chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into the tumor, while an embolic agent is placed in the blood vessels that supply blood to the tumor, keeping the drugs within the tumor.

This treatment is most commonly performed to treat liver cancer and cancers that have spread to the liver from the colon, breast, pancreas or other areas of the body. Chemoembolization is often successful in shrinking liver tumors or preventing them from growing, while maintaining the function of the liver. This procedure can also be combined with other treatments such as radiation therapy or radiofrequency ablation.

Central Venous Port Placement

A central venous catheter is often used to supply long-term medicine to tumors directly through the bloodstream. These catheters can be placed inside a major vein (usually in the neck or arm) for several weeks, months or years, depending on the patient’s individual needs. This allows for blood to be easily drawn or medication to be injected into the bloodstream over a period of time.

During the placement procedure, one or two incisions are made to create a small subcutaneous pocket that holds the port reservoir under the skin. The port passes through an access site in a vein of the arm, shoulder or neck, and ends in a large central vein in the chest.

Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters (PICC)

A peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) is a special type of intravenous catheter that can be placed in an upper extremity vein for an extended period of time to draw blood and inject medication directly into the bloodstream.

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