With increasing prevalence of chronic diseases among all age groups, the demand for high-quality imaging such as X-rays, scans and other radiology procedures has surged incessantly in recent times. As a result, there has been extensive R&D happening globally to develop new radiology techniques that facilitate early detection and accurate diagnosis of various illnesses. One such technique that is fast gaining prominence across every field of healthcare is interventional radiology. As per Insights 10’s report, the Indian interventional radiology market which was worth $441 billion in 2022 is projected amount to $913.4 billion by 2030, growing at a 9.5 percent CAGR during the forecast period.

Amidst such encouraging market conditions, one individual who stands-out through her profound knowledge of interventional radiology and passion to helps patients & the society as a whole is Dr Sanghamitra Saha. Having completed her MBBS from Gauhati Medical College, Dr Sanghamitra went on to pursue her MD in Radiodiagnosis from Silchar Medical College. To further extend her echelons of knowledge and refine her cancer imaging & intervention skills, she then took up Fellowship in Onco imaging & Interventions from the prestigious Tata Medical Center (Kolkata). Today, Dr Sanghamitra has treated over 3000 patients with a 99 percent recovery rate, establishing herself as one of the most renowned and sough-after interventional radiologist in Eastern India.

“Post completing my MD, I initially took-up onco imaging & intervention since it was the most sought-after specialization back then. However, I was intrigued by the field since beyond mere diagnostics, it could also provide a lot of advanced minimally invasive treatment options to patients. As I always wished to contribute towards the betterment of the society, I saw this an opportunity to help patients in Assam get access to advanced treatments locally without having to travel to far-off cities – thus began my sting at vascular & interventional radiology”, says Dr Sanghamitra.

Key Areas of Specialization

Working as a freelance interventional radiologist in Dibrugarh (Assam),

Dr Sanghamitra offers services majorly across five areas – Cancer & Breast Imaging, PTBD & PCN Procedures, Transarterial Chemoembolization, Gastronomy & Feeding Tube Placement, and Vascular & Non-vascular Interventions. While women’s imaging and breast imaging are her primary interest areas, her adroitness at vascular and non-vascular interventions has helped garner immense repute in the region. Some of the key vascular intervention procedures that she offers include angioplasty, stenting, embolization, and thrombolysis. Similarly, in terms of non-vascular interventions, Dr Sanghamitra specializes in procedures such as tumor ablation, abscess drainage, cyst aspiration, and biopsy of various organs such as liver, kidney, and pancreas.

Dr Sanghamitra is always ready to that extra mile to ensure that her patients get nothing short of the best quality care

“Performed using angiography and real-time imaging, the minimally invasive treatments that I provide not only spare patients from undergoing open surgery, but also facilitate shorter recovery times with less pain and reduced risk of infection. Additionally, I also utilize a combination of ultrasound, CT scan and MRI guidance techniques to accurately target the lesions while preserving the healthy tissue, thus minimizing the patients’ discomfort and enhancing the overall treatment outcomes by a great extent”, adds Dr Sanghamitra.

Patient-centricity at the Core

Dr Sanghamitra is always ready to that extra mile to ensure that her patients get nothing short of the best quality care. By combining her clinical expertise with advanced imaging techniques for real-time monitoring of the patients’ health, she ensures personalized care for each patient by formulating a custom treatment plan as per their health conditions. Going a step further, Dr Sanghamitra also strives to create awareness among people regarding interventional radiology through her social media handles and even create short reels and videos with the hospital that she’s associated with.

“A patient’s husband once approached me stating that he couldn’t afford the money needed for his wife’s treatment and pleaded with me to do at least something to help her. Very much moved by this, I built a makeshift c-arm and performed the Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) procedure with bare minimum complications, helping the patient get discharged shortly after that. Not only was this the first PTBD procedure that I performed independently, but it also made a significant on the way I look at my profession as an interventional radiologist”, proudly asserts Dr Sanghamitra.

Star-studded Journey

Given such fine track record and industry-benchmark practices, Dr Sanghamitra is a member of numerous professional organizations such as the Indian Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (ISVIR), Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE), and Indian Radiological & Imaging Association (IRIA). She also has many research articles and publications to her name – the prominent ones being ‘Role of Imaging-Guided Interventions in a Tertiary Cancer Care Center in Northeast India’, ‘Periampullary Cancer Imaging & Breast Imaging Modalities’, and ‘Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Ovary’.

Going forward, Dr Sanghamitra aspires to take-up additional training to further expand her specialization to include every other field of vascular & non-vascular interventions. Additionally, she has also recently started her own OPD services equipped with ultrasound, biopsy and FNAC capabilities, enabling even the female patients to directly approach her for clinical examination.