Several original research studies and clinical data publications in interventional radiology were published in early 2026, appearing in peer-reviewed journals. Below are key studies with details on researchers, institutions, methodology, sample sizes, and publication information:
1. Hip Embolization for Pain Control in Hip Osteoarthritis and Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: 12 Months Follow-Up
- Journal: CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology (CVIR)
- Publication Date: 23 March 2026
- Authors: Frederico Cavalheiro Pedro, Marinho Lopes, Nuno Neves
- Institution(s): Not explicitly stated in snippet, but likely affiliated with European interventional radiology centers
- Study Type: Clinical Investigation
- Sample Size: Not specified in snippet
- Methodology: Prospective or retrospective analysis of patients undergoing hip embolization for pain control; 12-month follow-up assessing pain scores and functional outcomes
- DOI/Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42155-026-00652-4
2. Mechanical Thrombectomy Versus Anticoagulation in Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Journal: CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology (CVIR)
- Publication Date: 22 March 2026
- Authors: James M. Chan, Valeria V. Varela Betancourt, Hong Kuan Kok
- Institution(s): Affiliations not specified in snippet
- Study Type: Scientific Paper (Other), Open Access
- Sample Size: Aggregate data from multiple studies (meta-analysis)
- Methodology: Systematic review and meta-analysis comparing clinical outcomes (e.g., mortality, hemodynamic stability, bleeding) between mechanical thrombectomy and anticoagulation alone
- DOI/Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42155-026-00651-5
3. Optimizing Safety in Portal Vein Embolization: Puncture Technique and Tract Embolization
- Journal: CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology (CVIR)
- Publication Date: 22 March 2026
- Authors: Hidenori Mitani, Keigo Chosa
- Institution(s): Likely Japanese or Asian academic medical centers
- Study Type: Commentary with clinical data
- Sample Size: Not specified
- Methodology: Evaluation of technical approaches to reduce complications during portal vein embolization, focusing on needle puncture methods and tract embolization to prevent bleeding
- DOI/Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42155-026-00650-6
4. Intravascular Lithotripsy for Peripheral Artery Calcification: 30-Day and 6-Month Outcomes from the RESTORE ATK Study
- Journal: Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR)
- Publication Date: 9 March 2026 (published online)
- Authors: Brodmann et al.
- Institution(s): Multiple centers involved in the RESTORE ATK trial (likely European and/or North American)
- Study Type: Clinical Study, Open Access
- Sample Size: Part of the RESTORE ATK multicenter registry (exact number not in snippet)
- Methodology: Prospective observational study assessing safety and efficacy of intravascular lithotripsy in patients with peripheral arterial calcification; outcomes measured at 30 days and 6 months (e.g., procedural success, restenosis, limb salvage)
- DOI/Link: https://www.jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(26)00123-4/fulltext
5. Whole Blood Viscosity as a Predictor of Sac Shrinkage after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair
- Journal: Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR)
- Publication Date: 25 March 2026 (published online)
- Authors: Yoshino et al.
- Institution(s): Not specified
- Study Type: Clinical Study
- Sample Size: Not specified
- Methodology: Retrospective or prospective cohort study analyzing preoperative whole blood viscosity levels and correlation with aneurysm sac shrinkage post-EVAR
- DOI/Link: https://www.jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(26)00130-1/fulltext
6. Angioplasty of Cephalic Arch Stenosis in Patients Enrolled in the AVeNEW Trial: Post Hoc Analysis of 730-Day Primary Patency and Restenosis Patterns
- Journal: Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR)
- Publication Date: 20 March 2026 (published online)
- Authors: Strieder de Oliveira et al.
- Institution(s): Multicenter trial (AVeNEW)
- Study Type: Clinical Study, Open Access
- Sample Size: Subset of AVeNEW trial participants with cephalic arch stenosis
- Methodology: Post hoc analysis of long-term (730-day) patency rates and restenosis patterns following angioplasty in hemodialysis patients
- DOI/Link: https://www.jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(26)00118-0/fulltext
7. Scoring Balloon Angioplasty Maintains Parent Artery Patency in Tandem Lesion Stroke Until Safe Stenting is Achievable
- Journal: Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR)
- Publication Date: 23 March 2026 (published online)
- Authors: Behzadi et al.
- Institution(s): Not specified
- Study Type: Clinical Study
- Sample Size: Not specified
- Methodology: Evaluation of scoring balloon use in acute stroke patients with tandem lesions to preserve vessel patency prior to definitive stenting
- DOI/Link: https://www.jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(26)00125-8/fulltext
8. ALARA+: Summit on Radiation and Orthopedic Risks in Fluoroscopic Laboratories
- Journal: Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR)
- Publication Date: 24 March 2026 (published online)
- Authors: Salavitabar et al.
- Institution(s): Endorsed by multiple societies including SIR, ACC, SCAI, and others
- Study Type: Proceedings (consensus/expert panel)
- Methodology: Summary of expert recommendations from the ALARA+ summit on minimizing radiation exposure and orthopedic injury among interventionalists
- DOI/Link: https://www.jvir.org/article/S1051-0443(26)00127-X/fulltext
These studies represent original clinical research and expert consensus published in high-impact, peer-reviewed interventional radiology journals in 2026. All are accessible via their respective journal platforms, with CVIR and JVIR serving as primary outlets for first-party data in
A recent study published on March 27, 2026, explores a niche and emerging application of interventional radiology (IR) in endocrine disease management—specifically, thyroid artery embolization (TAE) for Graves’ disease and multinodular goiter. While traditionally outside the core scope of IR, this experimental therapy is being investigated as a minimally invasive alternative for patients who are poor surgical candidates or have failed conventional treatments.
The research highlights that TAE can effectively reduce thyroid volume and hormone levels in nodular goiter, but it carries significant risks, including thyroid storm and cerebral infarction. The authors emphasize that with careful patient selection and procedural technique, TAE may offer a safe and effective option, though it remains under investigation and is not yet recommended for routine clinical use.
This work appears in Frontiers in Radiology, a peer-reviewed open-access journal, and reflects a growing interest in expanding IR’s role into non-traditional domains. The study is based on experimental and preclinical evidence rather than large-scale trials, positioning it as an early-stage, hypothesis-generating effort rather than established practice.
No other recent case series, conference abstracts from SIR or CIRSE, or government reports from the past 60 days were identified in the provided context that meet the criteria of independent or small-institution research on novel IR procedures or devices. The available data do not include conference proceedings or technical reports from smaller journals beyond the Frontiers publication
The provided context does not contain specific information about the newest interventional radiology (IR) techniques, devices, or FDA approvals from the last 60 days (February 1, 2026 – March 31, 2026). There are no mentions of recent FDA approvals for embolization agents, ablation technologies, thrombectomy devices, stent innovations, or AI-guided interventional procedures within this timeframe.
While several sources discuss FDA approvals of AI-powered medical devices—particularly in radiology—these focus on diagnostic imaging tools rather than interventional radiology-specific applications. For example:
- Aidoc received FDA clearance in February 2025 (over a year ago) for a rib fracture triage solution based on its CARE1™ Foundation Model, marking the first FDA clearance of a foundation model-powered clinical AI device.
- Viz.ai has FDA-approved software for stroke detection and neurocritical care, deployed in over 1,600 hospitals, with data showing AI alerts reduce treatment initiation times by approximately 66 minutes.
- Many AI tools from companies like GE HealthCare, Siemens Medical Solutions, Fujifilm, Qure.ai, and DeepHealth have been approved, but these are primarily for diagnostic imaging support rather than interventional guidance.
General trends indicate growing AI integration in medical imaging, with over 1,300 AI-enabled devices approved by the FDA as of late 2025, nearly 80% of which are radiology-focused. However, there is no detailed information in the provided context about AI specifically approved or used for guiding interventional radiology procedures such as embolization, ablation, or thrombectomy.
Additionally, there is no mention of new embolization agents, thermal or non-thermal ablation systems, next-generation stents, or mechanical thrombectomy devices approved recently for IR use.
Therefore, based on the available information, no specific new interventional radiology techniques, devices, or FDA approvals from the past 60 days can be reported
No recent interventional radiology studies from the last 90 days (January 1, 2026 – March 31, 2026) are available in the provided context that report surprising, negative, or contradictory results.
The most recent study in the context was published on May 1, 2025 (334 days ago as of March 31, 2026), which falls outside the requested 90-day window. That study, an audit of interventional radiology (IR) in postpancreatectomy complications, reported generally positive outcomes, stating that IR procedures are "safe and effective" and reduce the need for surgical re-exploration. It did note a numerically higher 90-day mortality in the angioembolization group (38.46%) compared to the surgical re-exploration group (17.6%) for postpancreatectomy hemorrhage, although this difference was not statistically significant. This is the closest finding to a "contrarian" result, but it does not represent a definitive negative or contradictory outcome, nor is it within the specified timeframe.
No other studies in the context present results where an IR procedure underperformed alternatives, had unexpectedly high complications, or challenged established techniques with new evidence within the last 90 days. Therefore, based on the provided information, no studies meeting the specific criteria of being recent (last 90 days) and containing surprising, negative, or contradictory findings in interventional radiology can
The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, held from April 11–15, 2026, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, showcased transformative breakthroughs in minimally invasive, image-guided medicine. With over 4,000 attendees, the meeting featured nearly 400 competitively selected oral presentations and 120 poster presentations of peer-reviewed scientific abstracts, highlighting cutting-edge research across interventional oncology, vascular disease, women’s health, and emerging technologies.
Key Presentations and Abstracts
One of the most significant presentations was the preliminary results of the FRONTIER Trial, recognized as an Abstract of the Year. This first-in-human study evaluated the safety and feasibility of intra-arterial Y-90 microsphere therapy as endovascular radiotherapy for patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, the trial demonstrated promising early outcomes, suggesting a potential new therapeutic avenue for aggressive brain cancers. The study was led by researchers including S. Mouli and R. Salem.
Another high-impact abstract, also designated as an Abstract of the Year, focused on intra-arterial immune-modulating nanoparticles in preclinical models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study in rats showed enhanced tumor targeting and immune activation, indicating a novel frontier in image-guided immunotherapy.
The COBRAS (COnsortium on Best Practice for RAdiation Segmentectomy) study was prominently featured, presenting multicenter U.S. data on predictors of complete pathologic necrosis in HCC patients prior to liver transplantation. This research aims to standardize and optimize Y-90 radioembolization dosing strategies using glass microspheres, with implications for improving transplant eligibility and outcomes.
Additional notable research included:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis confirming the efficacy of Y-90 radiation segmentectomy for curative-intent ablation of HCC, particularly in tumors >8 cm.
- Real-world data from the PROACTIF study on transarterial radioembolization (TARE) with Y-90 glass microspheres in HCC patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT), showing improved survival and safety.
- A prospective feasibility study on electromagnetic navigation with marker guidance for microwave ablation of CT-inconspicuous liver lesions, demonstrating high technical success and precision.
- Insights from the FDA MAUDE database on adverse events related to histotripsy devices for liver cancer, providing critical safety surveillance data for this emerging non-thermal ablation modality.
Notable Speakers and Sessions
The 2026 Dr. Charles T. Dotter Lecture was delivered by Professor Andrew Holden, MBChB, FRANZCR, EBIR, ONZM, director of interventional radiology at Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand. His lecture highlighted advancements in image-guided therapies and their global impact on patient care.
Educational sessions emphasized practical innovations, including:
- Standardized follow-up protocols for post-ablation imaging in lung and renal tumors.
- Techniques for thyroid nodule radiofrequency ablation using trans-isthmic access and moving-shot methods.
- Robotics in interventional radiology, with data showing reduced procedure times and improved accuracy in abdominal ablations after a short learning curve.
Institutional Contributions
Leading institutions contributing to high-impact research included:
- Northwestern University (R. Salem’s group) – FRONTIER Trial and Y-90 radioembolization studies.
- Auckland City Hospital (Andrew Holden) – Leadership in global IR practice and education.
- RenovoRX, Inc. – Presented abstract #2229370 on PET/CT imaging findings after transarterial microperfusion for pancreatic cancer (April 13, 4:45–5:45 PM ET).
Summary
SIR 2026 underscored major advances in interventional oncology, particularly in Y-90 radioembolization, image-guided immunotherapy, and robotic-assisted ablation. The meeting emphasized evidence-based innovation, with several studies poised to influence clinical guidelines, especially in HCC management and ablation standardization. The integration of real-world data, multicenter collaborations, and novel technologies signals a transformative phase in interventional radiology.