UCLA Health Interventional Radiology: Minimally Invasive Excellence

Interventional radiology (IR) at UCLA Health represents a cutting-edge medical specialty focused on utilizing minimally invasive techniques to address a wide spectrum of medical conditions. Traditionally, many of these conditions necessitated open surgery involving large incisions. UCLA Health interventional radiologists employ small, hollow tubes known as catheters, along with miniature instruments and sophisticated imaging guidance, to gain direct access to arteries and veins, all while avoiding the need for extensive surgical incisions.

UCLA Health Excellence in Interventional Radiology

UCLA Health interventional radiologists are experts in treating a wide range of conditions that affect blood vessels.

Improved Outcomes: UCLA Health offers effective treatment with reduced risks and decreased recovery times while avoiding the need for open surgery. The specialists have the expertise to treat complicated conditions safely and effectively, allowing patients to get back to their normal lives more quickly.

Established Experts: The interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians with advanced training in diagnostic radiology, plus additional training in vascular and interventional procedures. This comprehensive background allows them to quickly and accurately visualize, diagnose and treat many vascular conditions.

Research Emphasis: A strong focus on research allows UCLA Health to rapidly implement new, sometimes revolutionary, imaging and therapeutic techniques. Eligible patients may have access to new treatments through clinical trials.

Multispecialty Care: UCLA Health collaborates with multiple specialists throughout to offer these advanced interventional procedures. The team approach includes doctors in cardiac surgery, radiology, cardiology, anesthesia, urology, gastroenterology, head and neck surgery and more.

Areas of Care

Interventional radiologists at UCLA Health can treat conditions occurring throughout the body, offer specialized services for a range of conditions.

Fibroid Care

A coordinated team of interventional radiologists, gynecologists, urogynecologists and nurse practitioners work together to diagnose and treat uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are small, typically noncancerous, growths in the uterus. UCLA Health evaluates each patient’s needs to create personalized, effective care plans.

Interventional radiologists may perform an embolization procedure, in which they guide a catheter to the blood vessels that are supplying the fibroids with blood. They send small particles through the catheter that block the blood vessels. This restricts blood flow to the fibroids and causes them to shrink. Up to 90% of women experience significant relief from heavy bleeding after embolization.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Clinic

The specialists in the IVC Filter Clinic specialize in placing and removing IVC filters. An IVC filter is a small device placed in the inferior vena cava, the large vein running through the middle of the body. The filter traps blood clots to prevent them from traveling to the heart or lungs.

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These filters can be lifesaving treatments for many people. However, they aren’t always meant to stay in place long-term. The interventional radiologists are experts in determining when the filters are needed, and then placing them or removing them.

Spine Center

Interventional radiologists work with neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians and nurse practitioners to care for patients with spinal disorders, deformities or injuries. UCLA Health actively researches new techniques and continually bring patients the most effective treatment options.

The interventional radiologists may treat patients with spinal fractures that compress the spine and decrease height. Techniques such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are used to stabilize the spine and restore height.

Thyroid Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsies

The radiologists work with specialists in the Endocrine Center to offer thyroid FNA biopsies. During this minimally invasive procedure, a few cells are collected from the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland that produces hormones. Specialists analyze this cell sample under a microscope to diagnose or rule out conditions that affect your thyroid.

UCLA Health performs over 1,000 thyroid biopsies each year. At many of the clinics, same-day thyroid FNA biopsies are offered, so you have easy access to the care you need.

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Varicose Vein Clinic

Interventional radiologists in the Varicose Vein Clinic specialize in treating venous insufficiency, a condition in which blood doesn’t flow from your legs back to your heart as it should. Minimally invasive techniques are used to treat venous insufficiency and varicose veins. These approaches offer better cosmetic results with smaller entry points.

The multispecialty team includes physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and technologists dedicated to venous insufficiency treatment. UCLA Health is active researchers, continually learning and implementing the most effective new treatments.

Conditions Treated by Interventional Radiologists

Interventional radiologists treat a spectrum of conditions affecting virtually any part of the body.

Arterial Conditions

A variety of conditions that affect the arteries are treated, including:

Aneurysms: Weakening in a blood vessel wall that can result in a bulge
Arteriovenous malformations (AVM): Irregular connections between arteries and veins
Dissections: Tears in the inside layer of a blood vessel wall
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT): A rare disorder in which abnormal connections form between arteries and veins
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): A blockage in blood vessels that significantly reduces blood flow to the limbs

Gastrointestinal Conditions

Specialists may offer treatment for conditions affecting the digestive tract, such as:

Gastrointestinal bleeding: Bleeding in any part of the digestive tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anus
Gastrointestinal ischemia: Decreased or blocked blood supply to the digestive tract
Malnutrition: A condition in which a person doesn’t get the nutrients needed for growth and function
Obstruction: A partial or complete blockage anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract

Liver and Biliary Conditions

Disorders that affect the liver, the large organ that helps filter blood, and bile, the digestive fluid the liver produces are also treated. These conditions may include:

Ascites: Fluid buildup in the peritoneal cavity, the empty space around the abdominal organs
Biliary leak: A leak in any of the ducts that carry bile to the small intestine
Biliary obstruction: A blockage in any of the ducts that transport bile to the small intestine
Hepatic encephalopathy: A condition in which liver damage affects brain function
Liver cancer: Cancer of the liver, starting in the liver, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, or starting elsewhere and spreading to the liver (metastatic liver cancer)
Portal hypertension: Increased pressure in the portal venous system, the network of veins that drains blood from the abdominal organs to the liver
Variceal bleeding: Irregularly enlarged (dilated) veins in the digestive tract that may rupture and bleed

Male and Female Reproductive Conditions

Interventional radiologists may also treat male and female reproductive conditions, such as:

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Age-related prostate enlargement
Pelvic congestion syndrome: Irregular enlargement of the pelvic veins, including around the ovaries
Uterine fibroids: Tumors that grow in the uterus and are almost always noncancerous (benign)
Varicocele: Irregular enlargement of the veins in the scrotum

Orthopedic Conditions

UCLA Health collaborates with orthopedic specialists to treat:

Osteoarthritis of the knee: Breakdown of knee cartilage, the protective padding between bones of the upper and lower leg
Vertebral fracture: A break in any of the bones that make up the spine (vertebrae)

Venous Conditions

Interventional radiologists also treat conditions that affect the veins, including:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Blood clots within veins, usually in the legs
Pulmonary embolism: Blood clots in the lungs, often traveling there from the legs
Varicose veins: Enlarged, twisted veins, most commonly occurring in the legs
Venous and lymphatic malformations: Atypically enlarged veins or lymphatic vessels that are present at birth

Interventional Radiology Procedures Offered

Interventional radiologists use small, hollow tubes (catheters) and imaging tools to access blood vessels without the need for open surgery. A number of minimally invasive treatments are offered, including:

Angiography: A catheter is inserted through an artery at the groin. Then, contrast dye is injected through the catheter and X-rays, CT scans or MRIs are used to view arteries.
Angioplasty: A blocked artery is accessed with small catheters and special wires. Then, a small balloon device is placed to inflate and open the artery. This is a common procedure for PAD and may also be used in some cases of gastrointestinal ischemia.
Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO): This procedure may treat hepatic encephalopathy, portal hypertension or gastric variceal bleeding. A catheter with a small balloon is inserted through a vein in the groin. Then, it is guided to the liver and find the enlarged (dilated) veins. The balloon is then expanded, blocking blood flow to these veins to reduce bleeding risk.
Biopsy: CT or ultrasound guidance is used to place a needle into diseased tissue and obtain a small sample. Biopsies check tissue for cancer or other diseases.
Drainage: Ultrasound or CT guidance is used to place a small drainage tube in areas where there is atypical fluid collection. This treatment may be used for infections (abscess), ascites, biliary leak or obstruction, or other fluid buildup.
Embolization procedure: Embolization blocks blood flow to certain areas. Catheters and small instruments are used to inject special chemicals or place small coils into specific arteries. This procedure can be used for many conditions, including aneurysms, BPH, dissections, gastrointestinal bleeding, HHT, liver cancer, knee osteoarthritis, pelvic congestion syndrome, pulmonary AVMs, uterine fibroids, varicoceles and venous and lymphatic malformations.
Gastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy tube placement: A feeding tube may be placed into the stomach (gastrostomy tube), or a tube that passes from the stomach to the small intestine (gastrojejunostomy tube) may be placed. Both of these feeding tubes are treatments that provide nutritional support.
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement and removal: An IVC filter is a small device placed in the large vein that runs through the middle of the body. The filter traps blood clots to prevent them from moving to the heart or lungs. These filters may be placed or removed, depending on the patient’s needs. This procedure may be used for DVT or pulmonary embolism.
Stent placement: Stents are treatments for blocked arteries. Small wires and catheters are used to place a flexible metal or mesh tube (stent) in a blocked artery. The stent keeps the artery open so blood can flow properly. The procedure may be performed during angioplasty for PAD or gastrointestinal ischemia.
Thrombolysis: This is a treatment to dissolve blood clots. Clot-busting medicines may be injected through a catheter, or a small device that traps and removes the clot or breaks it up may be inserted. This procedure may be used for DVT, pulmonary embolism and some cases of gastrointestinal ischemia.
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): TIPS is a treatment for ascites or portal hypertension. The interventional radiologist guides a catheter into the vein that drains the liver (hepatic vein). Then they place a stent between the portal vein and hepatic vein to relieve pressure. It may also be used to stop variceal bleeding.
Tumor ablation: The interventional radiologist uses ultrasound or CT guidance to insert a specialized needle into a tumor. Then they use heat, cold or electric energy to destroy the tumor without the need for open surgery.
Vascular access: The interventional radiologist inserts a catheter into a blood vessel to allow easier access for blood draws or infusions. These catheters allow patients to receive intravenous (IV) treatments without the need for repeat skin punctures. It may be appropriate for patients who are on chemotherapy or hemodialysis (a kidney treatment that cleanses blood of excess waste) or who need repeat blood draws.
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: Vertebral compression fractures occur in the spinal bones called vertebrae. The fracture decreases the height of a vertebra by at least 15%. These fractures can be treated by stabilizing the fracture with a special cement (vertebroplasty) or restoring height by inflating a balloon inside the spine (kyphoplasty) and then injecting the cement.

The Expert Interventional Radiology Team

The interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians with advanced, specialty training in interventional procedures. A range of treatments are provided to care for patients with blood vessel conditions without the need for open surgery. Available services include: routine production of a continually-growing list of established tracers, development/optimization of automated synthesis protocols, and assistance with transitioning to clinical production, and the center will expand to include services for the development of novel tracers. The center is focused primarily on molecules labeled with fluorine-18, but is also experienced with positron-emitting radiometals. Facilities suitable for the development, characterization, and validation of new radiochemistry technologies are also available, and the center integrates these technologies into the tracer development and production process. It functions both as a shared preclinical imaging resource for UCLA researchers and as a hub for emerging imaging research and technology development. The same technologies and services are also available to the larger research community including other academic institutes and industry groups through contract work. The Imaging Center, operating through its sales-and-service, offers microPET, microCT, bioluminescence and fluorescence imaging modalities and complementary in vitro/ex vivo services including cell-based assays, biodistribution, digital autoradiography and dosimetry. Companion PET tracer radiochemistry and radiolabeling services are available in-house and is supported by on-campus cyclotron facilities. Technical and analytical support are available throughout the study process: initial consultation, experimental design and optimization, imaging protocols and techniques, post-acquisition data analysis and interpretation. With over 25 years of expertise, the team of physicians, scientists, fellows, technologists, and veterinary staff support pre-clinical studies and imaging procedures across the field of medicine. TRIC is dedicated to the development and testing of new medical devices, imaging technologies, drug therapies as well as novel treatments. The dedicated staff include: Board-certified Interventional Radiologists, Board-certified Radiologists, MR Physicists, Veterinarians, Statisticians, and Experienced Research Assistants. At the forefront of modern medicine, the Department of Radiology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center provides comprehensive imaging and minimally invasive treatment services. Diagnostic Radiology is the cornerstone of medical imaging, enabling accurate and early detection of disease across all organ systems. The team collaborates closely with referring clinicians to ensure that imaging findings translate into timely, effective patient care. Interventional Radiology is a subspecialty that uses image-guided, minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions.

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