Current trends in image‐guided chest interventions

Abstract

Interventional radiology (IR) is a rapidly expanding medical subspecialty and refers to a range of image-guided procedural techniques. The image guidance allows real-time visualization and precision placement of a needle, catheter, wire and device to deep body structures through small incisions. Advantages include reduced risks, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays, lower costs and less patient discomfort. The range of chest interventional procedures keeps on expanding due to improved imaging facilities, better percutaneous assess devices and advancing ablation and embolization techniques. These advances permit procedures to be undertaken safely, simultaneously and effectively, hence escalating the role of IR in the treatment of chest disorders. This review article aims to cover the latest developments in some image-guided techniques of the chest, including thermal ablation therapy of lung malignancy, targeted therapy of pulmonary embolism, angioplasty and stenting of mediastinal venous/superior vena cava occlusion, pulmonary arteriovenous malformation treatment and bronchial artery embolization for haemoptysis.

Transformative radiology: Chest imaging is being re‐defined

“…The interventional radiology review article in this imaging series covers the latest developments of most of the image-guided techniques in the chest, including thermal ablation therapy of lung malignancy, targeted therapy of pulmonary embolism, angioplasty and stenting of mediastinal venous occlusion, pulmonary arterio-venous malformation treatment, bronchial artery embolization for haemoptysis and others. 13 Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently become a major topic of interest in medical sciences. It combines computer science and analysis of large datasets to enable problemsolving and decision-making capabilities, not unlike the human brain but at a much faster pace.…”

“…All these permit procedures to be undertaken safely and effectively, and at the same time, are able to escalate the role of interventional radiology in respiratory medicine. The interventional radiology review article in this imaging series covers the latest developments of most of the image‐guided techniques in the chest, including thermal ablation therapy of lung malignancy, targeted therapy of pulmonary embolism, angioplasty and stenting of mediastinal venous occlusion, pulmonary arterio‐venous malformation treatment, bronchial artery embolization for haemoptysis and others 13 …”