Specialized medical services

Our section offers minimally invasive non-surgical procedures of interventional radiology (IVR). We treat a variety of diseases including tumors and vascular lesions through small catheters or needles through image guidance using angiography, ultrasound, or CT scans. We use the latest medical techniques: chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, and arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver tumors; biliary drainage and stenting; balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) and transjugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunt (TIPS) for gastric varices or portal hypertension; angioplasty and stenting for peripheral vascular diseases (PAD) and renovascular hypertension; IVC filter placement; and embolization for vascular malformations, visceral aneurysms, aortic endoleaks and varicose veins. As on-call responsibilities, we also apply IVR for emergency patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding, hemoptysis, postpartum hemorrhage, intractable epistaxis, and trauma.

Features

We actively perform embolotherapy and sclerotherapy to treat congenital vascular anomalies, as one of the few specialized facilities in Japan. These anomalies include peripheral arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and venous malformations, which are often difficult to treat by surgery. We are also engaged in IVR for benign conditions, including uterine artery embolization (UAE) for uterine myoma in cooperation with Obstetrics and Gynecology, and varicocele embolization associated with male infertility in cooperation with Urology. In addition, to improve the quality of life of advanced cancer patients, we offer palliative procedures such as central venous port implantation and embolization or radiofrequency ablation of metastatic bone tumors for pain relief.

Considerations in referring your patients to Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

Your patient needs to make an appointment for consultation. Generally, it takes about 30 minutes for the initial visit and 15 minutes for subsequent visits. Please note that there might be a waiting time for the initial visit. For evaluating the treatment indication and planning, please ask your patients to bring the film or a CD-R of diagnostic images taken at your facility. These images may be copied and kept at our facility.