Stacey Bass, MD, PhD, is a vascular and interventional radiologist who cares for both children and adults.
“Interventional radiology allows us to use imaging and advanced tools to diagnose and treat many conditions with minimally invasive techniques,” Dr. Bass explains. “For example, we can do something as simple as a biopsy using ultrasound to help diagnose a mass, or we can perform more complex treatments like stopping bleeding after an injury or even treating certain cancers without surgery.”
Dr. Bass is the director of pediatric interventional radiology at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital and specializes in treating vascular anomalies. “Vascular anomalies are conditions where veins or arteries develop abnormally. Imagine your blood vessels as straight roads, but in a vascular anomaly, those roads get tangled. This can create painful or noticeable lumps,” she says.
While vascular anomalies aren’t always painful, they can affect a child’s quality of life in many ways. “The good news is we can often diagnose them early and treat them using minimally invasive procedures. It may take just a few sessions to shrink the anomaly and relieve pain,” Dr. Bass explains.
Dr. Bass was drawn to interventional radiology because it combines her love of technology, imaging, and hands-on care. “In this field, we use some of the most advanced tools to access the body and treat conditions without open surgery. At Yale, we’re fortunate to have cutting-edge technology to provide innovative therapies for our patients,” she says.
In addition to working with children, Dr. Bass also cares for adults. She has a special interest in women’s health, including treating fibroids and providing options for pelvic pain.
“The best part of my job is working directly with patients,” she says. “Helping people is incredibly rewarding. I also love collaborating with other doctors to solve complex cases. In interventional radiology, we need to understand all parts of the body, which keeps the work exciting and always evolving.”
Dr. Bass is also passionate about research and focuses on finding better treatments for vascular anomalies to improve patient care.
