A Look at Image-Guided Procedures

We handle a wide variety of scans, examinations, and processes that utilise a range of radiological equipment and technology. With advancements in recent years, image-guided procedures have grown in their effectiveness and application. Perhaps most common are image-guided biopsies and fine-needle aspiration, which assist medical practitioners in diagnosis and treatment of cancers and other diseases. But imaging can be useful during localised surgeries, injections, and more. Let’s take a closer look.

Biopsies & Fine Needle Aspiration

We use image-guided procedures during most biopsies, including fine needle aspiration. The majority of biopsy procedures use thin needles or minor incisions to retrieve the sample of tissue to be examined.
We use ultrasound, x-ray, or CT to assist us in connecting with the correct, precise area under examination. Fine needle aspiration is typically chosen when looking at the tissue of the glands, breasts, lymph nodes and other complex areas. This is commonly used in testing for the presence of cancerous cells.

Image Guided Injections

Injections are one effective means of pain management which often provide great relief for our patients. At Vision XRAY, we work with several types of substances such as cortisone, which, when injected into specific areas of the body can combat swelling and inflammation. This assists with the reduction of pain and can promote the healing process. Typical areas requiring such injections include the spine, joints, and nerves. We frequently use image-guided technology to complete these injections, as ultrasound or x-ray (among others) ensures our careful injections reach the precise, localised areas, allowing for maximum efficacy and pain relief.

Surgeries & Other Procedures

Technology has come so far in the past decades, and many surgeries have now adapted to be minimally invasive, simpler procedures which offer better results and less recovery time for patients. This, in large part, is due to the availability of image-guided equipment, methods, and procedures. Many conditions which once required large-scale, major open surgery can now be completed with these advanced, less-invasive procedures.
What types of surgical procedures may be imagery-assisted?

• Treatment of some cancers (radiofrequency ablation)
• Treatment of vertebral fractures due to osteoporosis
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Trauma (embolisation)
• Uterine Fibroids
• Pleural effusions (thoracentesis)
• Ascites (paracentesis)

In addition to these, other image-guided procedures include: pleural taps, myelograms, arthrograms, contraceptive implant removals, IVC filters, joint dilations, CT virtual colonoscopies.

Back To Blog.