Embracing the Practice of Interventional Urology

Описание: Interventional urology represents an important evolution in how urologists diagnose and treat disease by integrating imaging, image-guided intervention, and innovation into everyday practice. In this presentation from the 12th Urology Today Conference, Ardeshir R. Rastinehad, DO, FACOS, Professor of Radiology and Urology, Northwell Health, New York, New York, explains why imaging and intervention can no longer exist outside the core of urologic care.

Dr. Rastinehad discusses how advances in prostate MRI, fusion-guided biopsy, and focal therapy have reshaped prostate cancer management and highlights the risks of relying solely on imaging reports without understanding image quality and limitations. He emphasizes that urologists who understand imaging are better positioned to guide biopsy decisions, treatment selection, and patient counseling.

The presentation also reviews minimally invasive interventional options for benign disease, including prostate artery embolization for benign prostatic hyperplasia and varicocele embolization. These examples demonstrate how image-guided procedures enhance treatment options while minimizing invasiveness.

Dr. Rastinehad advocates for earlier exposure to imaging during residency, the development of interventional urology fellowships, and structured collaboration with interventional radiology. He concludes that embracing interventional urology is essential for innovation, patient-centered care, and the future leadership of the specialty.