Dr Amit Chakraborty, Jan 2023
What is minimally invasive technique?
Minimally invasive technique is where procedures are done inside the human body without making a significant cut to the skin surface. Often this is done through a needle or a small cut that readily heals within a short time.
As technology and our understanding of the human body advances with time, more and more treatments and diagnostic procedures are now performed using minimally invasive techniques. With the advancement of imaging techniques, imaging guidance used with these procedures has proven to provide a number of added benefits.
What are the advantages?
The appropriate use of suitable imaging guidance significantly reduces the risk of complications such as hitting unwanted targets inside the body.
The use of imaging guidance ensures the effectiveness of the treatment or diagnostic procedure and minimises the chance of false negatives or failed procedures.
Minimally invasive techniques mean that often there are no cuts or bleeding. The patients are usually able to return to their daily activities within a short time.
Due to the lack of cuts or large incisions, often these procedures are done under local anaesthetic with minimal pain or discomfort.
Some commonly performed procedures:
Ultrasound or CT guided organ biopsy: biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from the affected organ and analysed under a microscope to detect the exact nature of the abnormality. When done under CT or ultrasound guidance, the amount of tissue removed is much smaller. Often there is a small skin cut (sometimes none at all). Some commonly performed biopsies include lymph nodes, breast, thyroid, liver, lungs et cetera.
Ultrasound guided cortisone injection: Cortisone can be an effective means to control inflammation and, therefore, improve mobility and reduce pain. When done under ultrasound guidance, the efficacy and accuracy of a procedure significantly improves. Many musculoskeletal pains and other conditions can be safely and effectively treated with ultrasound guided cortisone injection.
CT guided spinal nerve root pain relief: Spinal pain can be debilitating, and can affect the quality of life significantly. The use of a CT scan often diagnoses the problem accurately. In the hands of a skilled radiologist, a spinal pain relief injection performed under CT guidance can yield similar or better results than a surgical intervention. The added advantage is that there is minimal to no downtime. The procedure can be repeated multiple times if necessary.
PRP injection: This revolutionary new technology, if used correctly can provide significant healing benefits to an injured tissue such as a tendon or a muscle. When done under ultrasound guidance, the healing nutrients can be effectively delivered at the site of the injury and thus maximise the benefits.
Drainage of cysts or fluid collections: when done under imaging guidance, there is minimal to no cut involved. Very little pain or discomfort is experienced by the patient. The procedure is accurate and effective, quickly, and safely performed in an office setting by the radiologist.
The CareScan difference:
More and more treatments and diagnostics procedures are now performed with imaging guidance to improve their accuracy and effectiveness. Our doctors at CareScan imaging are passionate about interventional imaging guided procedures. They have undergone years of specialised training and bring a wealth of expertise in this particular field. As a result, our patients often report better than average results and less pain or discomfort during the procedures.
If you require an imaging guided procedure using CT scanning or ultrasound in Ingleburn or Edmondson Park, please talk your doctor to determine suitability of a referral to CareScan.
