Interventional Procedures
Interventional Radiology is a subspecialty of radiology and uses imaging techniques such as X-ray, CT, MRI, Fluoroscopy and Ultrasound imaging guidance to treat minimally invasive and highly targeted procedures that provide referring health professionals and patients with pain management options for a wide range of conditions.
A comprehensive range of interventional procedures are performed daily at Gympie Radiology. Our radiologists and technicians will discuss your procedure with you on the day of your appointment. For more information, or for any queries about the range of our interventional radiology services, please contact us.
Preparing for your procedure
Please be aware that all procedures require an appointment. Please call us to arrange a time.
What to bring:
- You will need to have a referral from your GP or specialist to have any procedure
- Medicare card
- Pension/concession card
- Previous films from other clinics relating to the area being scanned with us.
Please tell us if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you have not had a previous examination with Noosa Radiology you may need one before you can have the procedure. Please contact Noosa Radiology staff to organise an appointment and discuss further.
Some procedures require preparation including fasting and being well hydrated. You should continue taking all prescribed medications as usual. Please inform our staff if you are taking any blood thinning medication, as this may need to be ceased prior to the procedure.
Reasons for Interventional Procedures
We perform a range of spine and musculoskeletal procedures. Interventional Radiology can also be used for tissue sampling for example drainages, core biopsy, fine needle aspiration, lymph node and tumour biopsy.
CT
Many of these are used in spinal pain management for example spinal facet joint blocks, nerve root blocks, medial branch blocks, epidural injections and radiofrequency ablation. Please be aware you will not be able to drive after most CT procedures and therefore require a driver.
Ultrasound
Taking part in work or daily activities can sometimes cause strain on your joints including, hips, shoulders and extremities. A cortisone injection can be used to alleviate short term pain.
Ultrasound or mammographic stereotactic guided biopsy
In some cases, it is not possible to tell from the imaging studies alone whether an abnormality is benign or cancerous. In these cases, ultrasound biopsy or mammographic stereotactic guided breast biopsy is a highly accurate and minimally invasive way to provide the answer
What to expect
On arrival, our reception staff will ask you to read and sign a consent form. You may be asked to change into a gown and remove any metal objects or jewellery.
When can you get your results?
The images obtained are digitally recorded. At Noosa Radiology our highly trained and qualified Radiologists interpret the images and provides a report for your doctor and/or referring health care provider within 24 hours, although usually 3 hours depending on the complexity of the scan.
You will be able to take your images on the day or collect them at a time that is convenient for you. You may need to make a follow up appointment to discuss the results with your referring practitioner.
You may need to have an examination with Noosa Radiology prior to your procedure. Please contact us information and to organise an appointment.