The Language of Interventional Oncology
SIO has developed your go-to resource for understanding the essential terminology in interventional oncology, a rapidly evolving field at the intersection of radiology, oncology, and minimally invasive therapies. Whether you're a patient or caregiver, this glossary is designed to demystify the complex language surrounding IO disease states and treatments and help guide you in using the SIO “Find a Doctor” database.
From hepatocellular carcinoma to radioembolization, and from multidisciplinary care teams to image-guided ablation, this curated list provides clear, concise definitions and context for the terms you’ll encounter in IO care. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge, enhance communication with your care team, and support informed decision-making throughout your cancer journey.
Start exploring the terminology that’s shaping the future of cancer treatment—one minimally invasive procedure at a time.
Disease States
Breast
Breast cancer is a disease where cells in the breast grow out of control and form a lump or tumor. It can start in different parts of the breast, most often in the milk ducts or glands that produce milk. While breast cancer is most common in women, it can also affect men. It can also spread outside of the breast (metastasize) to the lymph nodes, bones, lungs and even liver.
Colorectal
Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the colon or rectum, which are parts of your digestive system. It can also spread outside of the colon and rectum (metastasize) to the lymph nodes, liver and even to the lungs.
Hepatobiliary
Hepatobiliary cancer refers to cancer that starts in the liver or nearby organs that help with digestion, such as the gallbladder and pancreas. Cancers that start in the liver (or primary liver cancer) can be due hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or cancer of the liver cells, or cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or cancer of the bile ducts. Cholangiocarcinoma can be within the bile ducts but outside of the liver (extra-hepatic) or it can be primarily in the bile ducts within the liver (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or ICC). These cancers can also spread outside of the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder or pancreas (metastasize) and spread to the lymph nodes, lungs and even to the bones.
Lung
Lung cancer is a disease where abnormal cells grow out of control in the lungs. There are two main types: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) – the most common type – and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) – a faster-growing but less common type.
Musculoskeletal
Musculoskeletal types of cancer can involve bones, muscles, or soft tissues like tendons, ligaments, and connective tissue. These cancers are often called sarcomas and can be either bone cancers (like osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma) or soft tissue cancers (like rhabdomyosarcoma or liposarcoma) or desmoid.
Neuroendocrine
Neuroendocrine cancer is a rare type of cancer that starts in neuroendocrine cells—specialized cells found throughout the body that act like both nerve cells and hormone-producing cells. These cells help control important body functions like digestion, breathing, and blood pressure. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can grow in many places, including the lungs, pancreas, intestines, and stomach.
Pancreas
Pancreatic cancer is a disease where abnormal cells grow out of control in the pancreas, a small organ located behind your stomach. There are two main types of tumors: exocrine tumors, the most common, usually start in the ducts of the pancreas. Neuroendocrine tumors can originate in the pancreas (pNET), which are less common, and begin in the hormone-producing cells.
Prostate
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland, located below the bladder and in front of the rectum.
Renal
Renal cancer, also called kidney cancer, is a disease where abnormal cells grow out of control in one or both kidneys.
Technical Procedures
Ablation
Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure where image guidance is used to precisely target abnormal tissue, often tumors, using extreme heat or cold.
Combination Therapy
Combination Therapy is the simultaneous or sequential use of multiple treatment modalities, often including minimally invasive, image-guided procedures, to achieve a synergistic effect in managing a disease, particularly cancer.
Cryoablation
Cryoablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme cold, to freeze and destroy abnormal or cancerous tissue. Interventional radiologists guide thin needles (cryoprobes) into the targeted area using imaging techniques like CT or ultrasound. The freezing process kills the targeted cells, and the procedure can be repeated if necessary.
Embolization
Embolization is a minimally invasive procedure where an interventional radiologist blocks a blood vessel using imaging guidance, typically with a catheter.
Immunoembolization
Immunoembolization combines minimally invasive, image-guided procedures of interventional radiology with immunotherapy to treat cancer. It involves using imaging techniques to deliver immunotherapy directly to tumors.
Irreversible Electroporation (IRE)
Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) is an ablation technique that uses short, high-voltage electrical pulses to destroy cancerous tumors (similar to electrocuting cells). The electrical pulses create tiny holes within in the lining (cell membranes) of the cancer cells, leading to cell death while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue.
Histotripsy
Histotripsy is a non-invasive procedure that uses focused ultrasound waves to mechanically destroy targeted tissue, such as tumors. It's a type of focused ultrasound surgery (FUS) that primarily relies on the generation and collapse of microbubbles (cavitation) to mechanically disrupt and liquefy the targeted cells.
Microwave Ablation (MWA)
Microwave Ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat generated by electromagnetic waves to destroy cancerous or other diseased tissue. It's a form of thermal ablation, where a needle-like probe is inserted into the tumor under imaging guidance, and microwaves are emitted to heat and ablate the targeted tissue. MWA is particularly useful for treating tumors in the liver, kidney, lung, and bone.
Pain Management
Pain management involves using minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat pain, often providing an alternative to surgery. These techniques, such as nerve blocks, celiac plexus block, neurolysis, and joint injections, can target pain at its source.
Palliative IR
Palliative IR focuses on using minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses, particularly those with advanced cancer. Types of palliative IR therapies may include: vertebral augmentation, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, percutaneous screw fixation, and osteoplasty.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat generated by radio waves to destroy abnormal tissue, such as tumors or nerves causing pain. Interventional radiologists guide a needle-like probe into the target area using imaging techniques like ultrasound or CT scans. The heat generated by the radiofrequency energy causes coagulation and destruction of the targeted tissue.
TAE
TAE, or Transarterial Embolization, is a minimally invasive procedure used to block the blood supply to tumors or abnormal areas of tissue. This is achieved by injecting small particles or beads into the artery that feeds the target area, effectively cutting off the flow of blood, oxygen, and nutrients. Particularly in the liver, bland embolization may be used.
TACE
TACE, or Transarterial Chemoembolization, is a minimally invasive interventional procedure used to treat liver tumors. It involves delivering chemotherapy drugs directly to the tumor through a catheter inserted into the artery that feeds it, while simultaneously blocking the blood supply to the tumor. This dual approach aims to maximize chemotherapy’s effect on the tumor while minimizing its impact on the rest of the body.
DEB-TACE
DEB-TACE is a minimally invasive procedure where Drug-Eluting Beads (DEBs) microspheres designed to carry and slowly release chemotherapy drugs into the target tumor. These beads are injected into the artery supplying the tumor during the TACE procedure.
DEB-IRI
DEB-IRI, or drug eluting bead with irinotecan, refers to a specific type of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) procedure that uses irinotecan-loaded drug-eluting beads delivered via TACE to treat liver tumors, primarily those metastasized from colorectal cancer.
TARE
TARE, or Transarterial radioembolization, is also known as selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), a minimally invasive interventional procedure used to treat liver tumors. In TARE, tiny radioactive beads (microspheres) containing isotopes like yttrium-90 (y90) are delivered directly to the tumor through the hepatic artery, targeting the tumor with high doses of radiation while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
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