We're proud to offer interventional radiology (IR) for a variety of urologic conditions, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), uterine fibroids, varicoceles, and more.
Of course, the most frequent question we get is this: What is interventional radiology anyway? Below is a quick primer.
What is interventional radiology (IR)?
Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical specialty in which board-certified, fellowship-trained physicians (known as interventional radiologists) perform minimally invasive treatments using radiologic imaging for procedure guidance.
Radiologic imaging includes X-ray fluoroscopy, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
What are some examples of interventional radiology procedures?
Examples of IR procedures include the following:
- Prostate artery embolization (PAE) for the treatment of BPH
- Varicocele embolization
- Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)
- Ovarian vein embolization for the treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome
- Rectal artery embolization for the treatment of hemorrhoids
- Kidney tumor or angiomyolipoma (AML) embolization
What are the advantages of interventional radiology?
Interventional radiology offers many advantages:
- Minimally invasive procedures
- Same-day, office-based procedures
- Quicker recovery times
- Low complication risks
- No general anesthesia needed
- Easier to schedule
What sort of training do interventional radiologists undergo?
Interventional radiologists must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a licensing examination, and complete at least five years of graduate medical education (residency). In addition, interventional radiologists have several different paths to board certification.
This specialized training is certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and takes place in accredited training programs. Interventional radiologists are certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR) in both Diagnostic Radiology and Vascular and Interventional Radiology.
Who is GBU's interventional radiologist?
Dr. Hesham Hafeez Malik is a board-certified vascular and interventional radiologist who currently helms our IR Centers at Greater Boston Urology in Plymouth. Dr. Malik graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He completed his residency and fellowship training in Diagnostic Radiology and Angiography & Interventional Radiology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
Where is the IR Centers at GBU located?
Our IR Centers at GBU is located at 51 Obery Street in Plymouth. Note: This used to be our general urology care center. Our general urology care center in Plymouth has moved to 45 Home Depot Drive in Plymouth.
I want to know if I'm a good candidate for treatment at the IR Centers at Greater Boston Urology. What should I do next?
Contact your GBU physician to discuss whether interventional radiology is right for your urologic conditions. Or you can call or email the IR Centers at GBU directly: 508-731-4800 or GBU@IRCENTERS.COM.