Vascular Interventional Radiology 

Interventional Radiology at MUSC.

At MUSC Health interventional radiologists are part of the Heart and Vascular Center and the Department of Radiology.

We provide state-of-of the-art diagnostic and interventional radiology services in a timely and cost effective manner for our patients and do research to develop new technologies for the future.

Interventional radiology can be defined as a specialty where trained radiologists use various imaging techniques and modalities to guide percutaneous minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The procedures are called percutaneous procedures because, as opposed to surgery, they are done through the skin using a needle stick or a small cut down technique. The procedures are usually simpler and safer, less traumatic, less painful, less invasive and in general as effective, and more cost-effective than comparable open surgical procedures.

 

Understanding your Interventional Radiology procedure.

Vascular Interventional Radiologist (VIR) is a physician who has specialized training in both Diagnostic Radiology, and in the specialty of Vascular Interventional Radiology. Your Vascular Interventional Radiologist has undergone extensive training in performing dozens of different types of procedures through very small incisions in the skin, what is called “percutaneous.” Through these small incisions, virtually any system in the body can undergo a procedure for a variety of conditions. Your VIR doctor typically works in real time, looking at a screen, while driving devices over long wires, called guide wires, and long hollow tubes, called catheters. This means these procedures are called “minimally invasive,” which usually means less pain and shorter recovery times than traditional open surgery.

The Division of Vascular Interventional Radiology is part of the Department of Radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina. The VIR division covers the Main Hospital at MUSC, the Ashley River Tower, Health East Cooper and the new Shaw Jenkins Children’s Hospital. We offer state-of-the-art service to all patients in a timely and cost-effective manner at all of our locations, with a focus on safety and individualized care.

VIR Procedures we perform at MUSC: 

• Cancer Treatments
  • Liver Cancer
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Other Cancers
• Liver Procedures
  • Procedures for Cirrhosis
  • Procedures for Jaundice
  • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
  • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (PDF)
• Prostatic Artery Embolization (PDF)
• Pain Management
  • Back Pain (Including Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty)
  • Nerve Blocks
• Geniculate Artery Embolization
  • GAE Trial Info
• Peripheral Vascular Disease Intervention (PDF)
• Blood Clots and Venous Disease
  • Acute and Chronic Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Central Venous Occlusion
  • IVC Filters
  • Saphenous Vein Ablation and Sclerotherapy
• IVC Filter Removal
• Uterine Artery Ablation
• Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
• Venous Access 
• Biopsy and Drain Placement 
• Pediatric VIR
• Creation and Maintenance of Hemodialysis Access
• Aneurysmal Disease