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Top 10 Conditions Treated with Interventional Radiology Instead of Surgery
07/29/2026
You might still believe that surgery is the only option for conditions such as fibroids, blocked arteries, liver tumors, or severe bleeding. But times have changed now, thanks to the advancements in interventional radiology treatment; many diseases that earlier required large surgical incisions, can now be addressed through tiny skin punctures.
Interventional radiology (IR) is defined as a branch of radiology that employs minimally invasive and image-guided procedures such as ultrasound, CT scans, fluoroscopy, or MRI to guide small catheters and needles safely to the affected area.
These minimally invasive procedures offer benefits such as less pain, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and a much faster recovery for most people.
It is important to remember that IR is not here to replace surgery in every case. Open surgery has its own benefits and the best treatment is decided based on your medical condition, overall health condition, anatomy, your preference and long-term health benefits.
Read Also: What Is Interventional Radiology? Conditions It Can Treat Without Major Surgery
Quick Overview: Conditions Commonly Treated with Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiology can be used in the treatment of the following conditions:
| Condition | Common IR Procedure | Possible Surgical Alternative |
| Uterine fibroids | Uterine fibroid embolization | Hysterectomy or myomectomy |
| Varicocele | Varicocele embolization | Surgical ligation |
| Internal bleeding | Arterial embolization | Emergency surgery |
| Abscesses | Image-guided drainage | Open surgical drainage |
| Vertebral fractures | Kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty | Spine surgery |
| Liver tumors | Liver tumor ablation, chemoembolization | Liver resection |
| Peripheral artery disease | Angioplasty and stenting | Bypass surgery |
| Blood clots | Catheter-directed thrombectomy | Surgical thrombectomy |
| Urinary obstruction | Percutaneous nephrostomy | Open urinary surgery |
| Pelvic vascular disease | Embolization | Various pelvic surgeries |
What Is Interventional Radiology?
Interventional radiology is a medical specialty in which interventional radiologists perform image-guided, minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat a wide variety of diseases such as uterine fibroids, varicocele, peripheral artery disease, urinary obstruction, etc.
Interventional radiologist treat the conditions in the body by inserting various small devices, such as catheters or wires, through a tiny puncture in the skin. Experts use imaging guidance to precisely direct these small devices to the problem area.
Depending on the condition, the procedure may:
- Open blocked blood vessels
- Stop internal bleeding
- Destroy tumors
- Drain infections
- Deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer tissue
- Remove blood clots
- Restore blood flow
- Reduce chronic pain
Benefits of interventional radiology treatment are:
- No large surgical incision
- Return to work sooner
- Reduced tissue damage
- Smaller wounds heal faster
- Many procedures are outpatient
Which Conditions Can be Treated with Interventional Radiology
Not every individual is a suitable candidate for interventional radiology treatment. Some conditions still need surgery if minimally invasive treatment is not successful.
Conditions that can be treated with IR are:
1. Uterine Fibroids (Also Called Leiomyomas)
Fibroids are common non-cancerous growths in the muscle layer of your uterus (womb).
One of the best-known applications of interventional radiology treatment is uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
During UFE procedure, interventional radiologist simply blocks the blood supply feeding the fibroids. The procedure does not involve removing the uterus or surgically cutting out fibroids.
2. Varicocele
A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins within the loose bag of skin that holds the testicles (scrotum). Varicocele can contribute to about 40% of all cases of male infertility.
Instead of surgery, doctors can recommend many patients to undergo varicocele embolization.
Varicocele embolization is an image-guided procedure, safe and effective alternative to surgery. It redirects blood away from an enlarged vein in your scrotum. An interventional radiologist uses a coil or special agents to block (embolize) the vein.
3. Internal Bleeding and Hemorrhage
One of the important life-saving uses of interventional radiology is embolization for internal bleeding.
An interventional radiologist uses angiography to find out the exact blood vessel responsible for bleeding. Afterward, small particles, coils, or medical glue is then delivered via a catheter to stop the bleeding.
This method does not involve opening the body to locate the source of bleeding.
Embolization for internal bleeding approach is used for:
- Trauma-related bleeding
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Pelvic bleeding
- Bleeding tumors
- Postpartum hemorrhage
4. Abscesses and Deep Infections
Today doctors use image-guided percutaneous drainage to treat abscesses and deep infections.
With the help of ultrasound or CT guidance, the interventional radiologist sees inside the body and finds the exact spot of the infection.
Then they insert a small drainage catheter directly into the infected collection to drain out the pus. Antibiotics are used to help clear the infection.
5. Vertebral Compression Fractures (VCFs)
VCFs occur when the bony block or vertebral body in the spine collapses, leading to severe pain, deformity and loss of height. These fractures more commonly occur in the thoracic spine (the middle portion of the spine), particularly in the lower part.
Two minimally invasive procedures used to treat VCFs are:
- Kyphoplasty
- Vertebroplasty
Both kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty involve injecting special bone cement into the fractured vertebra to stabilize it and lower pain.
6. Liver Tumors (Also Known as Hepatic Tumors)
Tumors are abnormal masses of tissue that develop when cells start to reproduce at an increased rate. Both noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) tumors can develop in the liver.
When surgery is no longer the safest or most effective option to remove liver tumor doctors can recommend interventional radiology treatment.
Interventional radiologists can treat selected liver tumors using minimally invasive techniques such as liver tumor ablation, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), and radioembolization (Y-90).
These minimally invasive techniques target the tumor directly and preserve liver tissue whenever possible.
7. Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
PAD is a vascular condition where arteries in your legs, pelvic area or arms become narrowed or blocked, usually because of plaque buildup (an accumulation of sticky or fatty deposits in the body).
This can lead to leg discomfort that starts when you’re active and stops when you rest.
Common interventional radiology treatments for PAD include:
- Balloon angioplasty
- Stent placement
- Atherectomy (plaque removal)
8. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
DVT is a condition in which a blood clot develops in the deep veins, generally in the lower extremities (in the leg). PE occurs when a part of the DVT clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, which can be life-threatening.
Blood-thinning medications remain the first-line treatment for most people, however, interventional radiology can recommend advanced options for selected cases such as:
- Catheter-directed thrombolysis
- Mechanical thrombectomy
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement or retrieval
These procedures are generally reserved for individuals with:
- Extensive clot burden
- Limb-threatening DVT
- Massive pulmonary embolism
- Contraindications to anticoagulants
In these advanced options the interventional radiologist use image guidance to dissolve or remove the clot via a catheter without open surgery.
9. Kidney Obstruction and Complex Urinary Problems
When kidney stones, tumors, infections, or other conditions block urine flow, pressure builds inside the kidney, increasing the chances of infection and permanent kidney damage.
In this scenario, interventional radiologists may perform a percutaneous nephrostomy.
During percutaneous nephrostomy procedure a thin drainage tube is inserted directly into the kidney under imaging guidance to treat upper urinary tract obstructions.
10. Pelvic Vascular Disorders and Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
Embolization is used to treat several pelvic vascular conditions that cause chronic pain or heavy bleeding.
The interventional radiologists can control bleeding by selectively blocking abnormal blood vessels. This procedure involves no removal of the uterus (womb).
What Is the Difference Between Radiology & Interventional Radiology?
Radiology is the broader medical specialty that uses imaging (for example X-rays, CT, MRI) to diagnose disease.
Interventional radiology is a medical sub-specialty of radiology that uses minimally-invasive image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases in almost every organ system.
What Is the Difference Between Surgery & Interventional Radiology?
Read this table to learn about traditional surgery vs interventional radiology.
| Feature | Interventional Radiology | Traditional Surgery |
| Incision | Tiny skin puncture | Large incision |
| Anaesthesia | Usually local with sedation | Often general anaesthesia |
| Hospital stay | Same day or 1–2 days | Several days |
| Recovery | Days to weeks | Weeks to months |
| Pain | Usually less | Generally more |
| Infection risk | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Selected patients and conditions | Complex or advanced disease |
Conclusion
If you ask “is interventional radiology better than surgery?” the answer is no. Both traditional surgery and interventional radiology have their own importance.
The right treatment is always based on:
- the condition being treated,
- disease severity,
- anatomy,
- patient preference,
- and specialist recommendation.
Looking for the best interventional radiology treatment hospital in Jaipur?
Contact Eternal Hospital, our major advancements in interventional radiology help our experts in early detection of cancer, tumor, blockage in arteries or veins, liver issues, fibroids, and other bodily problems.
Interventional radiology procedures at Eternal Hospital include:
- Angioplasty
- Cancer treatment
- Tumor ablation
- Biopsy
- Nephrostomy
- Spinal cord embolisation
- Uterine fibroid embolisation
- Joint injection
- Ultra-Sonography with color Doppler
- CT angiography
- MRI
- Mammography
Our interventional radiologist:
Get expert advice by calling us at+91-9549158888
Our Address: Eternal Hospital, 3 A Jagatpura Road, Near Jawahar Circle, Jaipur 302017
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational use only. Consult your doctor for accurate information about interventional radiology treatment.