![]() Overall, IO enables less pain, fewer side effects, and shorter recovery times (sometimes even in an outpatient ambulatory setting). Interventional Oncology thus presents itself as an optimal solution for several different treatment pathways: image guidance can allow for easier tumor access, IO therapies can be used as palliative and/or to shrink tumors and allow for surgical resection (in cases where it was not possible before), and co-treatment is possible, i.e., it becomes possible to combine IO techniques and any other technique from the other cancer care pillars. Some patients may also be too weak to undergo open surgery. While the surgical resection of tumors usually offers the best long-term therapeutical solution, it is often not possible due to the size, number or location of the tumor(s), not to mention it is always substantially impactful and subject to more complications and a longer recovery time. With the paradigm shift towards minimally invasive approaches, IO is taking a more prominent role in the oncology realm, as it is less invasive than traditional methods and approaches, and interventional radiologists often find creative and innovative ways to treat lesions while minimizing the impact of the intervention. It relies primarily on embolization or ablation to destroy tumors. Interventional oncology is a subspecialty of interventional radiology that focuses on image-guided procedures to deliver endovascular (embolization) or percutaneous (ablation) treatment to identified cancers. Interventional Oncology (IO) is now considered the fourth pillar of modern cancer care. Although immunotherapy specialists devised ingenious ways to use the patients’ own immune system to better fight cancer, this approach is set to replace conventional chemotherapy, given its clear advantages. These pillars address tumors directly, removing or destroying lesions. Until the late 90s, modern cancer care consisted of three pillars of treatment: surgery (through tumor resection), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. ![]() Interventional Oncology, the 4th pillar of modern cancer care
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