At Weill Cornell Medicine, the Department of Interventional Radiology offers a wide range of services to help patients of all genders and gender identities achieve optimal health for prostate conditions, infertility and other conditions affecting the male genital and reproductive organs.
Our compassionate care team will guide you through the process, from routine diagnostic exams to in-depth consultations and treatments. The interventional radiologists at Weill Cornell Medicine are here to help you.
Our specialists can treat a wide range of conditions affecting the reproductive organs through minimally invasive image-guided treatments without the side-effects or long recovery usually associated with surgery.
Convenient, individualized care: Our physicians offer personalized care, tailoring your treatment to your medical history, lifestyle and wellness goals. We are especially skilled in minimally invasive procedures, which eliminate the need for open surgery and allow for shorter and less painful recovery times.
As a patient, you will receive around-the-clock coverage, as well as access to in-person, video or phone consultations. We strive to get our patients in quickly with minimal wait time.
Multidisciplinary care from leading experts: Weill Cornell Medicine is a leader in the field of interventional radiology, with a long tradition of expertise, innovation and leadership.
When you choose Weill Cornell Medicine, you have access to a network of doctors and specialists. Often, we work as part of a team of specialists, which may include radiologists, urologists, oncologists or other specialists. This ensures that you receive the most expert and comprehensive treatment possible.
Weill Cornell Medicine also partners with NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the top hospital systems in New York City and the U.S.
At Weill Cornell Medicine, interventional radiologists use advanced imaging techniques to help diagnose and treat health conditions, including:
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) is the enlargement of the prostate. This condition can significantly impact a man’s quality of life. Signs you may have BPH include difficulty urinating or urinating at a frequency that impacts your daily life.
Infertility due to varicoceles: A varicocele is an enlargement of veins within the scrotum (the loose pouch of skin that holds the testicles). Pooling of blood in these veins causes them to enlarge, possibly damaging the testicles and decreasing fertility. Symptoms of varicocele can include enlargement of veins in the scrotum, dull ache or pain in the scrotum.
Prostate cancer and elevated prostate-specific antigen: Many patients undergo a biopsy to check for prostate cancer after doctors discover elevated levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA is a protein secreted by the prostate gland. Those with prostate cancer may have elevated levels of this protein.
An elevated PSA and a prostate biopsy can be a stressful process. We offer same-day prostate imaging, consultation and biopsy for patients who want a fast and timely diagnosis for an elevated PSA.
At Weill Cornell Medicine, our team offers the most advanced and comprehensive treatments available, including:
Prostate artery embolization: Prostate artery embolization (PAE) is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that can be used to treat BPH. During this procedure, interventional radiologists use a small catheter to identify the artery supplying blood to the prostate. This catheter is then used to block the blood supply to the prostate. This blockage shrinks the prostate and helps improve symptoms.
Weill Cornell Medicine uses the most advanced imaging techniques to improve the accuracy of embolization and to reduce the amount of radiation needed to perform these procedures.
Prostate fusion biopsy: Historically, doctors would test for prostate cancer by collecting tissue samples through a transrectal prostate biopsy, in which prostate samples are taken through the rectum. These biopsies were done blindly and did not specifically target an area of the prostate.
At Weill Cornell Medicine, however, we offer fusion biopsy, which is safer and more accurate. This procedure uses advanced medical imaging to target areas that warrant a biopsy. If our doctors identify an area that requires a closer look, they use a combination of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to hone in on the area. With a fusion biopsy, prostate samples are taken through the skin.
Focal therapy for prostate cancer: Focal therapy is an emerging treatment option for some men with prostate cancer. This treatment identifies the area of the prostate that contains the most aggressive cancer cells and treats that area only. Our team of interventional radiologists believes in focal therapy as a treatment option for patients with prostate cancer and is involved with clinical trials exploring its use.
Varicocele embolization: Varicocele embolization is a procedure that diverts blood away from an enlarged vein (called a varicocele) in your scrotum. It can cause pain, infertility and swelling. By blocking (or embolizing) the vein, many symptoms are improved.
Most interventional radiology treatments are minimally invasive procedures, which offer several benefits, including less exposure to anesthesia, smaller incisions and faster recovery times compared to traditional surgical procedures. Major complications are uncommon, but they can include bleeding.
Whether you visit us virtually through a video visit or you see us in person, you can be assured that we will deliver the highest standards of care with compassion.
The physicians at the Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Interventional Radiology offer patients the highest level of safety and care. As a top-ranked academic medical center, you have access to our extensive network of specialists who provide seamless care throughout your treatment — to promote long-term physical and mental health.
Interventional radiology procedures generally do not receive general anesthesia. Instead, your care team will generally numb the incision area with a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort. Then, an intravenous (IV) line will deliver sedation, which will make you more comfortable and relaxed during your procedure. Some patients fall asleep during the procedure.
Your sedation level will depend on your specific procedure, age and medical condition:
● Minimal sedation: You will be drowsy but able to talk.
● Moderate sedation: You may fall asleep and be unaware of your surroundings for some of the procedure.
● Deep sedation: You will be asleep but will breathe on your own. You will have very little memory of the procedure.
Most procedures require a minimum recovery of four hours in our care (this is called an “outpatient procedure”). For other interventional radiology procedures, you may need to stay one night in the hospital before being discharged. Your care team will inform you of your expected recovery time prior to your procedure.
You will not be able to drive after your procedure. Be sure to arrange for someone else to accompany you to your procedure and take you home.
The length of time varies by procedure. Most interventional radiology treatments are minimally invasive procedures, which offer several benefits:
● Shorter procedures than traditional surgery
● Less exposure to anesthesia
● Smaller incisions
● Quicker recovery after the procedures
Most procedures require three healthcare professionals:
● Interventional Radiologist (MD)
● Radiology nurse
● X-Ray technologist
On occasion, a medical student and/or resident may be present
● Bring all medications in their labeled containers with you on the day of your procedure
● Blood work is required prior to most procedures
● Please ensure that you have not had anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure
● Shower or bathe the evening before or the morning of the procedure
● Please leave jewelry and other valuables at home; we are not responsible for items that you bring into the hospital
● Plan on being at the hospital for at least 4 hours
● Plan on resting for 12 hours post procedure
● Do not drink alcohol 48 hours before or after your procedure
● You MUST have a responsible adult to drive you home
● Do not operate a vehicle or heavy machinery for the remainder of that day after the procedure
You will receive instruction when scheduling the procedure and one to two days before the procedure that explains your medication and food restrictions. Our standard protocol when anticipating sedation is to not to eat or drink for eight hours before the procedure. You may have clear fluids (such as water) up to two hours before. If you eat anything less than eight hours, your procedure may be cancelled.
If you have a contrast allergy, there are medications that can be prescribed for you to take prior to your procedure to help protect you against your allergy. These medications can help block your body’s response to an allergen.
Because interventional radiology procedures are minimally invasive, the pain is much less than with traditional surgery. However, it is possible to experience minimal pain at the insertion site. Our care team will be sure to help manage your pain so that you feel as comfortable as possible.
Our office has a team of schedulers that can assist you in scheduling your procedure. The schedulers can be reached at (646) 962-5757.
While radiation does have safety concerns, your interventional radiologist will be specially trained in the safe use of radiation and on how to minimize the risks associated. Interventional radiologists use federal guidelines on the recommended safe doses to use during specific treatments.