Filenews 6 July 2025 - by Marilena Panagi
Interventional radiology can easily be described as the marriage of medicine with technology, of idea and of the battle to save lives with the digital world. In a more philosophical version it is the proof that science, technology and man can "work together" and achieve greatness.
It is currently one of the fastest growing specialties in medicine worldwide and combines the most advanced imaging techniques with minimally invasive procedures, performing treatments through small incisions or vessels, avoiding open surgery and anaesthesia in many cases.
In simpler words and somewhat more understandably, interventional radiology helps humans, among other things, in the management of cancer, the destruction of tumours, the performance of biopsies, when other methods are not suitable, thromboectomies in cases of strokes.
At the Nicosia General Hospital, the reference hospital for the whole of Cyprus operates the Department of Interventional and Neurointerventional Radiology. It is one of the most innovative fields of medicine that has already changed the situation in the treatment of serious diseases and emergencies.
>Solutions for cancer patients
More than 1600 invasive operations are performed in this department of the Nicosia hospital per year and patients from all over Cyprus are referred there.
"Interventional oncology, a field that has been growing steadily in recent years, offers important solutions to cancer patients. Through targeted endovascular chemoembolizations, thermal tumour destruction and guided biopsies, the accuracy of diagnosis and targeted treatment are increased, while morbidity and hospital stay time are reduced to a minimum," explains the director of the hospital's radiology department, interventional radiologist, Nektarios Poullos.
"Emergency management is a daily routine for the Sector, which operates non-stop, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," he adds.
"In direct collaboration with the Hospital's Trauma Center, specialized interventional radiologists intervene in multi-injured patients for haemorrhage embolization, in victims of serious road accidents and accidents, saving lives and limiting the need for open surgeries."
>Mechanical thromboectomies
At the same time, "in collaboration with the Neurology Clinic, mechanical thrombectomies are performed, which can prevent severe disability in patients with ischemic strokes, if they are applied immediately".
"Interventional radiology is not just a technological step forward. It is proof that science, technology and humanity can coexist and change people's lives for the better. With the right infrastructure, equipment, and personnel, life can win time, and when it comes to health and life, time is the most precious commodity. Nicosia General Hospital continues to invest in these elements, building citizens' trust in the public health system every day and bringing Cyprus to the forefront of medical innovation."
>Invasive oncology opens up new paths
Another field that is growing rapidly is invasive oncology, "which offers important solutions to cancer patients."
"Through targeted techniques such as endovascular chemoembolizations, thermal tumour destruction and guided biopsies, accuracy in diagnosis and treatment is improved, while reducing patient discomfort and hospital time."
These treatments, "which do not require major surgical injuries, are more tolerated by patients and offer better survival rates and quality of life."
>An anthropocentric philosophy
The aim of the Department and the scientific team that offers its services through it is to develop a "modern approach that emphasizes specialization but also human contact".
"Our goal is to improve the patient experience, which we achieve through the right organization. Inpatient and outpatient flows have been separated and there is a separate, autonomous space for the operation of an outpatient clinic. This clinic has its own CT scanner and a classical radiology unit."
"Reducing waiting times and avoiding overcrowding are key priorities, while the use of low doses of ionizing radiation and adherence to strict medical protocols ensure the quality and safety of care."
>Investment of €1.48 million to upgrade
"Recently, with funding of €1.48 million. from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, extensive upgrades were made to infrastructure and equipment". "The new spaces have been designed with accessibility and comfort in mind, offering access to people with disabilities and a standard hospital ward with an increased number of beds." New hygiene infrastructure and a new nurses' station were put in place to better serve patients.
"The biggest innovation, however, is the installation of the state-of-the-art biplane, which offers high-resolution three-dimensional imaging and reduced radiation exposure of patients. This equipment allows for more precise neurosurgery and the treatment of complex vascular diseases, which previously required difficult and time-consuming open surgeries."
>Infrastructure that serves people
Renovation, says Dr. Poullos, "is not limited to the invasive sector. The Radiology Department operates state-of-the-art CT scanners, available 24/7, which support both diagnosis and guided procedures. The new 512-slice CT scanner enables specialized cardiovascular examinations (Cardiac CT) with low doses of radiation, while the second 256-slice CT scanner, which is expected to be installed immediately, will exclusively serve in-hospital patients, Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) and Intensive Care Units. Also important is the operation of the PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) system, through which all images are distributed electronically and analyzed simultaneously by the physicians involved, allowing faster and coordinated therapeutic decision-making. This system is critical for incidents such as strokes, where every minute counts."
>The vision behind progress
"Our goal is to offer immediate, safe and specialized care, comparable to that offered by the largest reference centers abroad. Interventional radiology allows us to approach areas of the human body that previously required open surgery. It is a revolution in medical practice, which we live and practice every day. This intention, combined with the continuous training of the staff and technological superiority, has made the Sector a model and a source of inspiration for the whole of Cyprus".
Reference centre for the whole of Cyprus
Today, the Department of Interventional and Neurointerventional Radiology of the Nicosia General Hospital "has been established as a reference centre for Cyprus. Continuous education, cooperation with other specialties and the state-of-the-art technology it has, make it a model in the wider region as well. At a time when speed and precision can make the difference between life and death, the Radiology Department of Nicosia General Hospital proves that innovation is a basic need and not a luxury.
