Radiologist ???

Question

Tell me Everything you know about Radiology !

Answer 1

Today's radiologist is much more technical saave than the early pioneers of radiology. With advances in CT, MRI, and ultrasound the push for radiology to become digital is rapidly progressing. The future involes 3D-4D diagnostic imaging. By taking an MRI or a CT scan a 3 dimensional image of an organ can be constructed, leading to a better conceptual diagnosis of what is going on. I work for a moderate sized health system in Michigan and our radiology department is quite large. Not including residents/fellows we have close to 25-30 Staff radiologists. They currently read images digitally from something called a Diagnostic reading station. It is comprised of a single "navigational monitor" and two diagnostic quality 3-5MP monitors. The radiologists pulls an exam (CR, CT, etc) from the digital pacs system and reads it right at the computer. He then dictates his findings into a microphone which turns the speech into a written report. From here the clinician evaluates the findings and decides on the best course of action.

Radiologists need to be very skilled in anatomy knowing a wide variety of structures. They go through training so they are comfortable in all types of imaging from CT to ultrasound. They can then decide to subspecialize in areas such as interventional radiology, or neuroradiology.

Answer 2

Radiology is the medical specialty directing medical imaging technologies to diagnose and sometimes treat diseases. Originally it was the aspect of medical science dealing with the medical use of electromagnetic energy emitted by X-ray machines or other such radiation devices for the purpose of obtaining visual information as part of medical imaging. Radiology that involves use of x-ray is called roentgenology. Today, following extensive training, radiologists direct an array of imaging technologies (such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging) to diagnose or treat disease. Interventional radiology is the performance of (usually minimally invasive) medical procedures with the guidance of imaging technologies. The acquisition of medical imaging is usually carried out by the radiographer or radiologic technologist.

Outside of the medical field, radiology also encompasses the examination of the inner structure of objects using X-rays or other penetrating radiation.

I work in Radiation Oncology Dept so if you need any extra info let me know and I'll ask around and see what more I can dig up..

Answer 3

Don't forget Nuclear Medicine! It is the study of function rather than just the anatomy that can be seen on x-ray, etc.

A low dose radioactive tracer is injected, swallowed or inhaled and the distribution and uptake as well as clearance times can be imaged using a machine called a gamma camera or measured using radiation detecting equipment. These images can also be fused with CT and MRI to give further anatomical localisation and many departments now have 'hybrid' scanners that encompase both NM/CT capabilities. PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans are also performed in many departments now - predominantly using radioactive 'sugars' to image functional cancer tissue. Nuclear medicine also encompases some forms of therapy for cancers and some thyroid conditions using much higher radiation doses in capsule or injection form.

We do some very interesting stuff and contribute in a very significant way to the field of radiology and the lives of our patients- although mostly forgotten by many people!

Answer 4

Can you be a little more specific? Do you want to be a doctor or an x-ray tech?

Answer 5

It's a good field to get into..