Radiology
What is radiology?
Radiology is a branch of medicine that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases. Physicians who specialize in radiology are called radiologists.
Medical imaging allows doctors to see inside the patient, including soft tissue structures, the musculoskeletal system, or how a particular internal system, such as the digestive track, in the body is functioning.
What are the types of radiology procedures?
Some of the most common radiology imaging exams include:
- Computerized tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Mammography
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Ultrasound (US)
- X-ray
Where are radiology procedures performed?
Radiology procedures are performed for a variety of reasons across many types of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, imaging centers, physician groups, and surgery centers.
For example, at the hospital, a patient in the emergency room may need to get a diagnostic radiology CT scan to determine if they have appendicitis. A cancer patient may visit an imaging center to get an MRI that can review if chemotherapy treatments are helping reduce the spread of the disease. A patient that is pregnant might have an ultrasound exam to check on the baby’s growth at their doctor’s office. And surgery centers often use interventional radiology to perform minimally invasive procedures with the aid of imaging technology, such as using cameras to guide a biopsy sample.
Why is radiology important in healthcare?
Radiology is important because of the role it plays in the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases. Early diagnosis, can help doctors treat diseases sooner, leading to improved outcomes.
Radiology can also be used as an interventional imaging strategy during medical procedures, which may eliminate the need for more extensive procedures and allow for smaller incisions, leading to a shorter and less painful recovery.
Advancements in radiology and medical imaging technology will continue to add to the options or precision of disease diagnosis, care plans, and types of treatment.