The Society of Interventional Radiology is holding its annual scientific meeting in San Diego this week. Participants will discuss new advancements in minimally invasive treatments. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
Interventional radiologists use catheters and other small instruments to treat people who suffer from conditions including cancer and blocked blood vessels.
Dr. Matt Johnson is the chair of this year's meeting. He explains the goal of interventional radiology.
"Finding new ways to treat people, without having to undergo big operations," Johnson says. "That I think is the major point is that, we offer alternative care to people who might otherwise have to have open surgery."
Dr. Johnson says one of the studies presented this week will talk about the technique of freezing small kidney cancer tumors. Johnson says that approach appears to be just as effective as surgery.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
