Interventional radiology uses medical imaging technology to enable physicians to meet many diagnostic and treatment needs that in the past required invasive surgery. For example, to diagnose cancer, interventional radiologists perform image-guided biopsies, in which a needle, inserted through a small incision, is used to remove suspicious cells for testing. Interventional radiology procedures are also used to treat certain types of cancer by delivering doses of chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer tissue, with the benefit of less impact on surrounding tissue.
The Progressive Physician Associates (PPA) Interventional Radiology team is led by a talented group of board certified, fellowship-trained physicians in Vascular and Interventional Radiology (IR). The group provides IR services to six hospitals in the Lehigh Valley. Procedures performed include peripheral, mesenteric and cerebral angiography; stroke thrombolysis and thrombectomy; GI, GU and biliary procedures; percutaneous gastrostomy placement; and uterine artery embolization. Oncologic interventions include chemo and radioactive microsphere embolization in addition to cutting edge microwave and cryotherapy ablative therapies. Non-invasive imaging includes CTA, MRA and vascular ultrasound.
In conjunction with our vascular surgery partners we perform carotid artery stenting, endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and a newly established program allowing stenting of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. We are proud to have been selected as one of the very few sites in the country to participate in the fenestrated endovascular aortic repair program (FEVAR).
In collaboration with St. Luke’s University Health Network, the PPA IR physicians are part of a multidisciplinary team, including cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and vascular surgeons, that staffs the St. Luke’s Heart and Vascular Center.
We actively participate in research projects in concert with hospital-, industry- and NIH-sponsored trials.
St. Luke’s radiology is a proud show site for GE Health Care including our INNOVA 4100 and the nation’s first Hybird OR, the Discovery IGS 730.