Is Interventional Oncology Right for You?

The field of oncology deals with cancer and its study and treatment. Oncologists work to determine and eliminate the risk factors for cancer, like tobacco use, radiation exposure, and certain genetic mutations. The best way to treat cancer is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Early detection can also successfully treat cancer. If you are suspected of cancer, get your test done at interventional radiology boise

Is interventional oncology right for you?

Medical oncology is a mix of chemotherapy and other medicated forms of treatment of cancer. Interventional oncology focuses on using minimally invasive methods to identify and treat cancer. Interventional oncologists carry out biopsies, ablations, embolizations, and other minimally invasive procedures.

Interventional oncology can be a practical choice for those cancers that are difficult to treat with surgery or chemotherapy. It might also be a choice for patients who cannot have surgery because of their general health or other underlying medical issues.

If you are considering interventional oncology, consult your oncologist and interventional radiologist to determine if it is the right choice. They will provide additional information about the specific procedures involved and whether they are appropriate for your case. It is also essential to be aware of any procedure’s potential benefits and risks before making a decision.

Treating liver cancer with interventional Oncology

Interventional oncology can treat liver cancer, especially tumors that cannot be removed surgically or treated with chemotherapy. Interventional oncology techniques such as image-guided biopsies and aspiration cytology can be used to obtain liver tissue samples for analysis, allowing for the accurate diagnosis of liver cancer. The most common interventional oncology procedures used to treat liver cancer are:

  1. Radiofrequency-assisted liver resection (RALR)

This technique combines radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to attain complete tumor removal while minimizing blood loss and lowering the risk of complications. 

RALR has several advantages over traditional surgical resection alone, including:

  • Reduced blood loss during surgery.
  • Low risk of complications during surgery.
  • Preservation of more healthy liver tissue.
  1. Ablation techniques

Microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and cryoablation are all used to destroy tumor cells using heat and cold. The goal of ablation is to remove or reduce the size of the tumor while preserving as much healthy liver tissue as possible.

  1. Embolization technique

The blood supply to the tumor can be blocked by transarterial chemoembolization, transarterial radioembolization, and bland embolization, depriving them of nutrients and oxygen.