[Interventional radiology of the thorax]

The authors review the various thoracic interventional radiology techniques currently used by a medicoradiosurgical team. CT-guided needle biopsy has an important place in the diagnostic approach to parenchymal as well as mediastinal and pleuroparietal tumours. CT also allows drainage of various thoracic collections. Embolizations of bronchial arterial haemoptyses, pulmonary arteriovenous aneurysms or post-catheterisation false aneurysms are effective therapeutic procedures. Percutaneous extraction of foreign bodies generally avoids the need for open surgery. Superior vena cava and tracheobronchial stents are palliative treatments allowing a better quality of survival in patients with superior vena cava compression. CT-guided sympatholysis and in situ fibrinolysis have certain specific indications in pulmonary embolism.