Interventional radiology is one of the most advanced minimally invasive therapies for cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and is known as IVR in Japan.

In IVR, physicians can reach target lesions in a patient’s body by using fine catheters or needles under image guidance with X-ray fluoroscopy, ultrasonography, CT, or MRI. Without leaving any scars on the surface, patients receive complete treatments that are sometimes very similar to surgery. Before, during, and after an operation, patients feel less pain or body changes, indicating that IVR is a gentle treatment method.

In April 2013, we opened our new IVR Center on the first floor of the newly constructed Advanced Medical Center of our hospital. This is the most advanced IVR Center among 40 national university hospitals, and is equipped with 5 angiography machines, 2 IVR-CT scanners（angiography machine combined with CT scanner）, and one MRI scanner for IVR. We have 5 sections for cancer and general intervention, neuro-intervention, cardiovascular intervention, pediatric cardiac intervention, and anesthesiology. We also have full-time registered nurses for IVR, radiologic technologists, clinical engineers, and secretaries in the center.

With excellent human resources and team work, combined with modern IVR equipment, we anticipate that our center will be the top minimally invasive therapy facility in our district and all of Japan. All the staff of the IVR Center of Okayama University Hospital constantly strive for further improvement of minimally invasive therapy, and never forget our noble mission as one of the top university hospitals in Japan.