Our Services
- Interventional oncology procedures
- PICC line and port placement and removal
- IVC filter placement and removal
- Interventional pain management procedures
Interventional oncology procedures
Some of our centers perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and support people managing cancer. Interventional oncology is an approach to managing cancer care that's often used when tumors can't be removed with chemotherapy or surgery. In some cases, these procedures may also be used alongside traditional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Some of our centers also offer minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedures to support cancer care, including biopsy, paracentesis and thoracentesis procedures, and chemoembolization.
In a biopsy, your doctor will take a tiny sample from a lump, tumor, or nodule in your body. This allows them to study it more closely. Biopsies are very important because they can help your doctor diagnose medical conditions that may need attention. Biopsy procedures are usually completed within an hour, so you can return home and get back to your normal activities shortly after.
Who is a candidate for a biopsy?
If you or your doctor have found a lump or area of concern, like nodules on your thyroid or a problem in your liver, your doctor may order a biopsy.
What are the benefits of a biopsy?
Some of our centers offer minimally invasive biopsies for the thyroid, liver, lymph nodes, and kidneys, among other parts of the body. The benefits of these biopsy procedures include:
Minimally invasive—no incision or scarring
Requires only conscious sedation, so you can go home the same day
Requires minimal recovery time at home
We'll guide you through every step to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We'll be sure to address any potential side effects and answer any questions you have.
We offer minimally invasive chemoembolization procedures that target cancerous tumors. Chemoembolization (Y90 and TACE) and tumor ablation are very effective and can work alongside chemotherapy, giving you better overall outcomes.
Both chemoembolization and tumor ablation are safe alternatives to surgical removal of tumors in some situations. They may also stop or slow the spread of cancer. These procedures are performed in an outpatient setting, so you can go home the very same day.
Who is a candidate for chemoembolization?
If you have liver cancer or liver disease, your oncologist may recommend chemoembolization or tumor ablation. These procedures may be done in combination with chemotherapy or radiation. Our minimally invasive procedures are done in an outpatient setting by our expert interventional radiologists.
What are the benefits of chemoembolization?
Chemoembolization procedures can stop the growth of tumors, or may shrink them in about two-thirds of cases.1 These procedures may also slow or stop the spread of cancer. The results of these procedures usually last for 10-14 months, and if the tumor begins to grow again, chemoembolization can be done again. Other benefits of chemoembolization include:
Same-day procedure, so you can recover quickly at home
You will receive medicine to help you relax and feel no pain
Shorter recovery compared to traditional cancer treatments
Medicine delivered directly to the tumor, so you experience fewer side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy
May preserve liver function and improve quality of life
We'll guide you through every step to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We'll be sure to address any potential side effects and answer any questions you have.
If you've been told you have fluid in your abdomen or around your lungs, you might need a procedure called paracentesis or thoracentesis. These are minimally invasive procedures that use a small needle to get rid of the fluid. Both procedures are done in an outpatient setting—that means you can go home the very same day.
What is paracentesis?
Paracentesis is a procedure that drains fluid (called ascites) from your abdomen. The fluid is removed to relieve pressure and then can be tested in a lab. You might need paracentesis if you have cirrhosis, liver cancer, heart failure, kidney disease, peritonitis, or pancreatitis.
What is thoracentesis?
Thoracentesis is a procedure that drains fluid (called pleural effusion) from around your lungs. Your doctor may run tests on the fluid as needed. You may need a thoracentesis if you have pneumonia, heart failure, cancer, or an autoimmune disease.
What are the benefits?
Both of these procedures can help you breathe easier and move more freely, helping you feel better. Other benefits of paracentesis and thoracentesis include:
Minimally invasive—no large cuts or scarring
Same-day procedure—recover quickly at home
You will receive medicine to help you relax and feel no pain
We'll guide you through every step to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We'll be sure to address any potential side effects and answer any questions you have.
PICC line and port placement and removal
If you are going through chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or other procedures where more frequent access to your veins is needed, you may benefit from a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line or port.
PICC lines are usually short-term and ports will typically stay in longer. Both can eliminate the need for repeated needle sticks, allowing you to receive medication with less discomfort. Some of our centers offer minimally invasive, nonsurgical placement and removal of PICC lines and ports.
A PICC line is a long, thin, and flexible tube that's placed in your vein to deliver medicine straight to your blood. A PICC line gives your care team quick access to your veins to give IV medicine or draw blood. Having a PICC line makes these procedures more comfortable, compared to getting needle sticks every time.
Who is a candidate for PICC line placement?
If you need treatment that requires doctors to access your veins often, you may be a candidate for a PICC line. A PICC line is also helpful if you need short- or moderate-term antibiotics and want to avoid frequent needle pokes or the irritating effects of IV medicine.
What are the benefits of having a PICC line?
Some PICCs have two or three different lines, letting you receive different medicines at the same time. PICCs can stay in place for weeks or months, depending on your needs. A tunneled PICC goes in your chest, similar to where a permanent catheter would go. Other benefits of a PICC line placement include:
Minimally invasive
Same-day procedure—recover quickly at home
Saves you from frequent needle pokes or the irritating effects of IV medicine
Can be used at home and can stay in place for weeks or months
What can I expect when having a PICC line placed or removed?
After a PICC line is placed, you may experience some mild soreness at the incision site and have limited mobility in your arm while healing. When the PICC line needs to be removed, your doctor will gently remove the catheter and apply slight pressure to stop any bleeding. The area will be covered with a sterile gauze pad that should be kept on for 24 hours following your PICC line catheter removal.
We'll guide you through every step to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We'll be sure to address any potential side effects and answer any questions you have.
A port is small (about the size of a quarter) and is placed under your skin, usually in your upper chest. It delivers medicine or IV fluids directly into your bloodstream. This saves you from repeated needle sticks. Ports can also be used to draw blood samples.
Who is a candidate for having a port placed?
If you need frequent chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotics, IV feeding, or blood draws, you may be a candidate for port placement.
What are the benefits of having a port?
With a port, medication is delivered to your large central veins, so the medicine mixes with your blood and is less harmful to your veins. Since ports are placed under the skin, it doesn't hold you back from your daily routine—you can still shower and swim. Other benefits of having a port placed include:
Minimally invasive
Same-day procedure—recover quickly at home
Can stay in for months or years
Lessens pain and damage to the surrounding tissue
What can I expect when having a port placed or removed?
After a port is placed, you may experience some mild soreness at the incision site. You'll also need to avoid swimming or lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds while the site heals. When the port needs to be removed, your doctor will make a small incision where the port is located and then gently remove it.
We'll guide you through every step to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We'll be sure to address any potential side effects and answer any questions you have.
IVC filter placement and removal
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter insertion is a quick, minimally invasive procedure that prevents blood clots in your legs from traveling to your heart and lungs. The IVC filter is a tiny, cone-shaped device that's placed in your IVC, the largest vein in your body that runs down your spine, located just below your kidneys. The filter traps blood clots in your legs, keeping them from moving to your heart or lungs, which could be life-threatening. IVC filter insertion is performed through a small incision at your leg or neck.
Who is a candidate for IVC filter placement?
You may be a candidate for an IVC filter if you've been diagnosed with deep venous thromboembolism (DVT) or pulmonary embolisms (PE). An IVC filter might also be helpful if you have a clot in your leg but can't take blood thinners due to clotting disorders, pregnancy, limited mobility, a family history of clotting disorders, or an upcoming surgery.
What are the benefits of IVC filter placement?
IVC filters work right away and are safe to leave in for as long as you need it. Other benefits include:
Minimally invasive
Same-day procedure—recover quickly at home
Can be temporary or permanent, depending on your care needs
The IVC filter placement procedure takes 15-30 minutes. Your doctor will decide how long you should keep the filter in. Having an IVC filter removed takes approximately 30 minutes.
We'll guide you through every step to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We'll be sure to address any potential side effects and answer any questions you have.
Interventional pain management procedures
Pain affects millions of people around the world. It's estimated that 20% of adults suffer from some type of pain, and 10% are newly diagnosed with chronic pain each year.2 Interventional pain management procedures may be very effective, especially for those who are not able to handle oral pain medications. Some of our centers offer minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedures that help you get back to your regular routine.
An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is generally a very safe nonsurgical procedure that may help alleviate back pain. ESI involves injecting an anti-inflammatory steroid medicine into the epidural space of your spine. This can alleviate inflammation and pain.
Who is a candidate for ESI?
If you suffer from chronic back pain, chronic degenerative spinal disease, or a back injury, you may be a candidate for ESI. This procedure helps with many conditions, the most common being herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, and pain after spine surgery.
What are the benefits of ESI?
The ESI procedure is very quick, usually only taking 15-30 minutes. Epidural injections are a safe way to manage severe and chronic back pain caused by inflammed nerves. Other benefits of epidural injections include:
Minimally invasive—no incisions or scarring
Same-day procedure—recover quickly at home
Reduces pain and inflammation
We'll guide you through every step to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We'll be sure to address any potential side effects and answer any questions you have.
While epidural injections are for more general pain, facet joint injections are for localized pain, specific to a certain area of the body. Facet joints are the joints in your spine that make your back flexible, allowing you to bend and move.
Who is a candidate for facet joint injections?
If you have arthritic, swollen, thickened, or injured facet joints that cause chronic back pain when you move, facet joint injections could help. Many who receive facet joint injections have already tried remedies like anti-inflammatory medicine, chiropractor visits, or physical therapy. If you have an MRI showing the location of the injury and have symptoms in the neck or back, this procedure may help relieve your symptoms.
What are the benefits of facet joint injections?
This procedure is quick and you'll be able to go home the same day. Other benefits of facet joint injections include:
Minimally invasive—no incisions or scarring
Same-day procedure—recover quickly at home
Reduces back and neck pain
We'll guide you through every step to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in our care. We'll be sure to address any potential side effects and answer any questions you have.
