The Interventional Oncology Program offers cutting edge specialized services supporting all disciplines at Smilow Cancer Hospital.  Led by Kevin Kim, MD, Professor of Radiology and Medicine (Medical Oncology), the program complements medical, surgical, and radiation oncology to provide optimal patient care.

A team of dedicated and committed professionals with the highest level of expertise in interventional oncology will offer image-guided therapies for patients with liver, colorectal, lung, bone/soft tissue, kidney and metastatic cancers.  These minimally invasive therapies can be used either as primary or adjuvant treatments, as part of truly multidisciplinary care at Smilow Cancer Hospital.

In addition, Interventional Oncology provides a range of therapeutic options used for palliative care including biopsy, vascular port, and chemotherapy catheter placement, abscess drainage, stenting of malignant strictures, and various therapies for pain relief.

“Interventional Oncology is rapidly evolving and growing, allowing for more treatment options and clinical trial opportunities for our patients.  Our comprehensive Interventional Oncology Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital is the first of its kind in the state of Connecticut,” said Kevin Kim, MD.

Minimally invasive Interventional Oncology treatments include:

Chemoembolization: Selective delivery of chemotherapy directly to the tumor through a catheter located in the artery feeding the tumor

Radioembolization: Selective delivery of radioactive particles directly to the tumor through a catheter located in the artery feeding the tumor

Radiofrequency Ablation: A procedure that uses radio waves to heat and destroy cancerous cells performed through a needle inserted through the patient’s skin

Cryoablation: A procedure in which an extremely cold temperature via a cryoprobe inserted through the patient’s skin is used to freeze and destroy cancer tissue.

Microwave Ablation: A procedure that uses microwaves to heat and destroy cancerous cells.

NanoKnife: Irreversible Electoroporation Cancer Ablation, or NanoKnife therapy, is available as a treatment option for liver cancer at Smilow Cancer Hospital. NanoKnife is a state-of-the-art minimally invasive cancer treatment that applies a high voltage of electrical pulses to induce targeted cancer death, while minimizing surrounding tissue damage in highly selective and challenging anatomic locations, such as the liver.

Pain Palliation Treatment: Therapeutic options consisting of ablation, chemoembolization or radioembolization designed specifically to relieve pain caused by primary or metastatic tumors.