Vascular interventional radiology
Interventional radiology (sometimes referred to as IR or VIR) is a field of medicine in which minimally invasive procedures are performed using image guidance (e.g., CT, fluoroscopy, ultrasound). Some of these procedures are done to diagnose illness while others are done for treatment purposes. Different imaging modalities available to interventional radiologists enable them to manipulate and guide tiny instruments throughout the body which in many instances avoids more invasive open surgery.
Vascular interventional radiology is one of the most rapidly expanding areas in medicine and has led the current movement toward minimally invasive therapy.