Innovating: Interventional Radiology Offers Faster Recovery

When her son, Riley, complained of soreness in his right leg, Tracey Yerkey wasn’t concerned. After all, her then 10-year-old’s world revolved around activities – when he wasn’t participating in cross country, soccer, basketball or skiing, he’d explore his backyard.

But the Hudson mom became alarmed when the pain grew so severe that Riley ran with a limp. An X-ray revealed Riley had a noncancerous tumor. The benign growth wasn’t likely to get larger and would most likely go away on its own, but could take years.

“Even though it wasn’t cancerous, we worried about how it affected Riley,” said Tracey. “He couldn’t do all the things he loved without being in pain.”

After reviewing their options, the family met with Dr. Janice McDaniel for an innovative treatment that was less invasive than standard surgery, resulting in a faster recovery time and fewer risks.

“It’s a mouthful, but as a pediatric interventional radiologist, I offer targeted treatments using imaging tools and small incisions to perform procedures that would typically be done by making much larger incisions,” said Dr. McDaniel, who’s one of about 200 such specialists in the world and the only pediatric interventional radiologist in northern Ohio. After undergoing a procedure to treat the bone tumor this past December, Riley is pain-free.

Pediatric patients of all ages – with cancer, liver disease, kidney disease or gastrointestinal problems – can benefit from interventional radiology. Dr. McDaniel works closely with the hospital’s plastic surgeons caring for children with vascular anomalies and collaborates with the hospital’s pediatric general surgeons on a wide variety of cases.

Riley underwent an interventional radiology procedure this past December to treat the bone tumor on his leg. Within 48 hours, he was pain-free.

“You can’t even see where the incision is on his leg, it’s so small,” said Tracey. “I’m so thankful that it’s over with. If we knew it was so quick and easy we would have done it sooner. Only a few days of nervousness leading up to the surgery and a couple days of recovery eased 2 ½ years of pain.”