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What does a radiologist do?

Your Radiologist
Your radiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disease and
injury, using medical imaging techniques such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET), fusion
imaging, and ultrasound. Because some of these imaging techniques involve the use of radiation
and require training to understand radiation safety and protection.
Your radiologist has graduated from an accredited medical school, passed a licensing
examination, and completed a residency of at least four years of unique postgraduate medical
education in, among other topics:
 Radiation safety/protection
 Radiation effects on the human body
 Appropriate performance and interpretation of quality radiologic and medical imaging
examinations
The majority of radiologists also complete a fellowship — one to two additional years of
specialized training in a particular subspecialty of radiology, such as breast imaging,
cardiovascular radiology or nuclear medicine.
Your Radiologist Plays a Key Role in Your Healthcare By:
 Acting as an expert consultant to your referring physician (the doctor who sent you to the
radiology department or clinic for testing) by aiding him or her in choosing the proper
examination, interpreting the resulting medical images, and using test results to direct
your care.
 Treating diseases by means of radiation (radiation oncology) or minimally invasive,
image-guided therapeutic intervention (interventional radiology).
 Correlating medical image findings with other examinations and tests.
 Recommending further appropriate examinations or treatments when necessary and
conferring with referring physicians.
 Directing radiologic technologists (personnel who operate the equipment) in the proper
performance of quality exams.
Radiologists are medical doctors that specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases
using medical imaging (radiology) procedures (exams/tests) such as X-rays, computed
tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission
tomography (PET) and ultrasound.
Diagnostic Radiologists
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Diagnostic radiologists use a variety of imaging procedures to see inside the body and assess or
diagnose the patient’s condition. Your radiologist plays an important role in your health by acting
as an expert consultant to your referring physician (the doctor who sent you for testing) by
choosing the proper exam and directing radiology technologists (those who operate the
equipment) in properly performing quality exams. They interpret and report on the resulting
images, recommending treatment and, only when appropriate, additional tests.
Diagnostic radiologists, through extensive clinical work and related research, may also specialize
in these radiology subspecialties:
 Breast imaging (mammograms)
 Cardiovascular radiology (heart and circulatory system)
 Chest radiology (heart and lungs)
 Emergency radiology
 Gastrointestinal radiology (stomach, intestines and abdomen)
 Genitourinary radiology (reproductive and urinary systems)
 Head and neck radiology
 Musculoskeletal radiology (muscles and skeleton)
 Neuroradiology (brain and nervous system; head, neck and spine)
 Pediatric radiology (imaging of children)
Interventional Radiologists

These radiologists are doctors who diagnose and treat patients using image-guided, minimally
invasive techniques such as X-rays and MRI. They carefully guide instruments through tiny
incisions in the body, reaching the source of a medical problem and delivering targeted
treatments. These treatments are for conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and uterine
fibroids, offering less risk, pain and recovery time compared to traditional surgery.
Radiation Oncologists
These highly trained radiologists are doctors who prescribe and oversee each cancer patient's
treatment plan. They use radiation therapy to treat cancer, and they monitor the patient's progress
and adjust treatment to make sure patients receive appropriate quality care. Radiation oncologists
receive extensive training in cancer medicine, in the safe use of radiation to treat disease, and in
managing any side effects caused by radiation.
COMMONLY USED TERMINOLOGY IN RADIOLOGY
ANGIOGRAPHY: A radiographic technique in which a radiopaque (shows up on X-ray)
contrast material is injected into a blood vessel for the purpose of identifying its anatomy on an
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X-ray. This technique is used to image arteries in the brain, heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract,
aorta, neck (carotids), chest, limbs, and pulmonary circuits.
ANGIOPLASTY: An interventional radiology procedure in which the radiologist inserts a
miniature balloon attached to a thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel through a tiny nick in the
skin. The catheter is threaded under X-ray guidance to the site of the blocked artery. The balloon
is inflated to open the artery.
ARTERIOGRAM: An angiogram of an artery.
ARTHROGRAM: The visualization of a joint by X-ray after the injection of dye into the joint.
ASPIRATE/ASPIRATION: Withdrawal of a fluid from the body by suction, usually through a
needle or syringe.
BARIUM: A chalky liquid which outlines various parts of the digestive tract on an X-ray. It can
be drunk to study the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. It can be used as an enema to
study the large bowel. It is inert and is not absorbed by the body.
BILIARY DRAINAGE: An interventional radiology procedure in which a tube is inserted into
the side of the abdomen. Bile, which normally flows from the liver to the intestines, is drained
through the tube. Blockages can cause infection, fever, pain, and jaundice. Biliary drainage
relieves such symptoms and may obviate the need for surgery.
BIOPSY: The removal and examination of a piece of tissue taken from the body for diagnostic
purposes.
CHEMOEMBOLIZATION: A family of technically sophisticated interventional radiology
procedures used for the delivery of cancer-fighting agents directly to the tumor site.
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY: Also known as CT scan or CAT scan (Computer Assisted
Tomography). A special radiographic technique that uses a computer to assimilate multiple X-ray
images into a 2-dimensional cross-sectional image. This can reveal many soft tissue structures
not shown by conventional radiography. Scans may also be dynamic, in which movement of a
dye is tracked. Cuts may be 1 mm apart to several mm (10-15) apart. Special dye materials may
be injected into the patient’s vein prior to the scan to help differentiate abnormal tissue and
vasculature. The machine rotates about 180° around the patient’s body, sending out a pencil-thin
X-ray beam. Crystals positioned at the opposite points of the beam pick up and record the
absorption rates of the varying thicknesses of tissue and bone. These data are then relayed to a
computer that turns the information into a picture on a screen. Using the same dosage of
radiation as that of the conventional X-ray machine, an entire slice of the body is made visible
with about 100 times more clarity. The scanner was invented in 1972 by the British electronics
engineer Sir Godfrey Hounsfield and was in general use by 1979.
CONSCIOUS SEDATION: Intravenous medication used to relax the patient during a
procedure, without putting him/her to sleep. Usually associated with procedures which are
anxiety-producing for the patient.
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CONTRAST MATERIAL: (Also referred to as contrast agent or contrast medium.) Any

internally administered substance that has a different opacity from soft tissue on radiography,
computed tomography, or MRI. Includes barium, used to make opaque parts of the
gastrointestinal tract; water-soluble iodinated compounds, used to make opaque blood vessels or
the genitourinary tract; may refer to air occurring naturally or introduced into the body; also,
paramagnetic substances used in magnetic resonance imaging. Used during certain X-ray exams,
CT exams, and MRI exams to provide visual contrast in the pictures of different organs and
tissues. Can be given orally or intravenously. “Dye” usually refers to the contrast media given
intravenously. In MR studies, the contrast is called gadolinium. The use of contrast may rarely
result in some adverse effects. It increases the accuracy of the scan.
CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY: A study of blood vessels which supply the muscle of the heart
(coronary arteries). By threading a long, narrow, flexible catheter through an accessible blood
vessel (usually in the groin or arm), the individual coronary arteries are injected with a small
quantity of X-ray dye, which helps radiologists look for blockages (stenoses). Cardiac
catheterization refers to the technique of performing coronary angiography, whereby catheters
are threaded into the heart and coronary arteries.
DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY: An application of diagnostic ultrasound used to detect
moving blood cells or other moving structures and measure their direction and speed of
movement. The Doppler Effect is used to evaluate movement by measuring changes in frequency
of the echoes reflected from moving structures. In many instances, Doppler ultrasound has
replaced x-ray methods such as angiography, as a method to evaluate blood vessels and blood
flow. Doppler ultrasound permits real-time viewing of blood flow that cannot be obtained by
other methods. Doppler ultrasound has proven to be a boon in all areas of ultrasound, aiding in
the evaluation of the major arteries and veins of the body, the heart, and in obstetrics for fetal
monitoring.
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY: A painless study using ultrasound waves to visualize structural and
functional abnormalities of the heart.
EMBOLIZATION: The movement of a blood clot, piece of tissue, or pocket of air or gas from
where it forms through the bloodstream until it lodges in place, cutting off the flow of blood with
its oxygen and tissue nutrients. Catheter embolization is the deliberate introduction of foreign
(“embolic”) material such as gelatin sponge or metal coils to stop bleeding or cut off blood
flowing to a tumor or arteriovenous malformation.
FALLOPIAN TUBE RECANALIZATION: An interventional radiology procedure that opens
blocked fallopian tubes, a common cause of infertility.
FLUOROSCOPY: A real-time X-ray procedure that makes it possible to see internal organs in
motion.
HYSTEROSALPINGOGRAPHY: Radiography of the uterus and fallopian tubes after the
injection of radiopaque material.
HYSTEROSONOGRAPHY: Sonography of the uterus and fallopian tubes using a transvaginal
probe following the injection of sterile saline into the uterus.
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INFERIOR VENA CAVA (IVC) FILTERS: Devices used in patients with leg vein clots, who
are at high risk of dislodgement into the pulmonary arteries. The filter is inserted through a tiny
incision in the groin or neck and positioned within the major abdominal vein (inferior vena cava)
to prevent blood clots from reaching the lungs.
INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY: A subspecialty of radiology that uses image-guided,
minimally invasive techniques for the diagnosis and/or treatment of a variety of medical
conditions and often represents a viable alternative to surgery. The interventional radiologist uses
miniaturized tools, while watching the progress of the procedure using moving X-rays or other
imaging techniques. The procedures are performed in an interventional suite, generally on an
outpatient basis. General anesthesia is usually unnecessary. Examples of interventional
procedures include angiography, angioplasty, chemoembolization, fallopian tube recanalization,
inferior vena cava (IVC) filters, ovarian vein embolization, percutaneous nephrostomy, stent
placement, thrombolytic therapy, TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt), uterine
fibroid embolization, varicocele embolization, and vascular embolization.
INTRAVENOUS PYELOGRAM/IVP: A special diagnostic test that follows the time course of
excretion of a radiopaque contrast dye through the kidneys, ureters, and bladder after it is
injected into a vein.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY/MRA: A method of angiography utilizing the
magnetic properties of tissues and body fluids rather than X-rays to create images.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY: An examination of the
bile ducts and pancreas using magnetic resonance imaging.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING/MRI: A special imaging technique used to image
internal structures of the body, particularly the soft tissues. An MRI image is often superior to a
normal X-ray image. It uses a strong magnet to create images of tissue based on the number and
type of hydrogen atoms within the tissue. Images are very clear and are particularly good for soft
tissue, brain and spinal cord, joints, and abdomen. These scans may be used for detecting some
cancers or for following their progress.
MAMMOGRAPHY: Imaging examination of the breast by means of x-rays, used for screening
and diagnosis of breast disease. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance may also be used to image
the breast.
MYELOGRAM: An X-ray of the spinal cord after the injection of a radiopaque substance into
the subarachnoid space.
NEEDLE BIOPSY: Diagnostic test for breast or other cancers that is an alternative to surgical
biopsy. Involves the removal of tissue or suspension of cells through a small needle for
diagnostic examination.

NEURORADIOLOGY: The branch of radiology which offers comprehensive diagnostic

imaging of the brain, the spine and spinal cord, and the head and neck region, using radiography
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and fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). State-of-
the-art imaging techniques include echo planar techniques, perfusion/diffusion imaging, and PET
scan. Noninvasive MR and CT angiography and other three-dimensional imaging techniques are
available. Interventional neuroradiologic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are available,
including percutaneous biopsy of head and neck tumors, intra-arterial chemotherapy, and
preoperative embolization of tumors and vascular malformations of the head and neck.
NONINVASIVE: Denoting a procedure that does not require insertion of an instrument or
device through the skin or body orifice for diagnosis or treatment.
NUCLEAR MEDICINE: The branch of medicine pertaining to the diagnostic, therapeutic, and
investigative use of radioactive chemical elements. Dozens of different examinations are
performed in the Nuclear Medicine Department. Minute traces of radioactive material, attached
to a variety of molecules, are administered to the patient. The type of radioactive tracer and the
type of molecule vary, depending upon which part of the body is to be examined. Scans are
obtained with a gamma camera, which measures protons from the decaying radioactive tracers.
ORAL CHOLECYSTOGRAM: A series of X-rays of the gallbladder, taken after the
gallbladder has been outlined with a special X-ray dye. The dye is taken orally the night prior to
studying.
OVARIAN VEIN EMBOLIZATION: An interventional radiology treatment for “varicose
veins” of the ovary, which is becoming more recognized as a cause of undiagnosed pelvic pain in
women.
PANCREATOGRAPHY: Radiographic demonstration of the pancreatic ducts, after injection
of radiopaque material into the distal duct.
PERCUTANEOUS: Through the skin.
PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOMY: An interventional radiology procedure that allows
percutaneous drainage of an obstructed kidney through a small tube.
POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY/PET: A research imaging technique, like nuclear
medicine, using short-lived radioactive substances which emit positrons. This technique is very
sensitive in picking up active tumor tissue but does not measure the size of it.
PYELOGRAM/IV UROGRAM/IVP: An X-ray of the pelvis, showing the kidney and
associated structures, after injection of a radiopaque dye.
RADIOGRAPHY: The making of film records (radiographs) of internal structures of the body
by passage of X-rays or gamma rays through the body to act on specially sensitized film.
RADIOLOGY: Medical imaging techniques, employing advanced computers and other
complex equipment that allow doctors to see inside a patient’s body. Although the word
“radiology” implies radiation, not all of the techniques actually use radiation. And although
radiology is most commonly used for diagnosis, it is sometimes used therapeutically.
RADIOPAQUE: Anything that does not allow the penetration of X-rays.
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SCAN: Term used to describe the computerized images (pictures) generated by CT, MRI,
ultrasound, and nuclear medicine studies. These might be referred to as a “CT scan,” “MR scan,”
“thyroid scan,” “bone scan,” etc.
SCINTIGRAPHY: A nuclear medicine procedure consisting of the administration of a
radionuclide with an affinity for the organ or tissue of interest, followed by recording the
distribution of the radioactivity with a stationary or scanning external scintillation camera.
SONOGRAPHY: The location, measurement, or delineation of deep structures by measuring
the reflection or transmission of high-frequency or ultrasonic waves. Computer calculation of the
distance to the sound reflecting or absorbing surface plus the known orientation of the sound
beam gives a two- or three-dimensional image. Synonym: ultrasound.
SPECT: An acronym for single photon emission computed tomography. A nuclear medicine
procedure in which the gamma camera rotates around the patient and takes pictures from many
angles, which a computer then uses to form a tomographic (cross-sectional) image. The
calculation process is similar to that in X-ray computed tomography (CT) and in positron
emission tomography (PET).
SPECTROSCOPY: The science of measuring the emission and absorption of different
wavelengths (spectra) of visible and non-visible light. This can be done via a spectroscope,
which consists of a slit, prism, collimator lens, object lens, and a grating. Hydrogen spectra from
living tissue can be obtained using MR spectroscopy.
STENT PLACEMENT: An interventional radiology procedure in which a stent, a tiny metallic
tubular mesh, is placed in an artery, acting like scaffolding to keep the artery open.
STEREOTACTIC: The technique of viewing objects from two slightly different angles to give
a depth perception.
THROMBOLYSIS/THROMBOLYTIC THERAPY: An interventional radiology procedure
used in cases where blockage in an artery is caused by a blood clot. Thrombolytic drugs (clot-
dissolving drugs) are delivered to the site of the blockages through a catheter directly into the
clot to dissolve it and restore blood flow. These drugs are frequently combined with another
treatment, such an angioplasty.
TIPS (Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt): An interventional radiology
procedure used to improve portal blood flow for patients with severe liver dysfunction. The
procedure uses a small hollow tube (shunt) to make a new pathway for the blood to flow from
the liver to the large veins of the body. It is a safe test with low complication risks that can
usually replace major surgery.
TOMOGRAPHY: The recording of internal body images at a predetermined plane by means of
the tomograph. Also called body section roentgenography. This technique has been replaced by
CT.
ULTRASOUND: A type of imaging technique which uses high-frequency sound waves to make
pictures of the body organs. Since no ionizing radiation (X-rays) are used, it is ideal for looking
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at pregnant women and their fetuses. It is also used for the neck, abdomen, pelvis, and soft
tissues, including blood vessels in the arms and legs.
UPPER GI SERIES: An X-ray exam of the upper part of the digestive tract.
UROGRAPHY: Radiography of any part (kidneys, ureters, or bladder) of the urinary tract.
UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLIZATION: A safe, effective non-surgical treatment for women
with symptomatic uterine fibroid tumors. In this procedure, the interventional radiologist guides
a small catheter into the uterine arteries and injects a stream of tiny particles that decrease blood
flow to the fibroid.
VARICOCELE EMBOLIZATION: An interventional radiology treatment for “varicose veins”
of the testicles, a common cause of male infertility or scrotal discomfort.
VASCULAR EMBOLIZATION: An interventional radiology technique used to treat bleeding
from injured blood vessels. It is also used to non-surgically stop uncontrolled bleeding from the
stomach or bowels.
VASOGRAPHY: Radiography of the secretory duct of the testicle (vas deferens), to determine
patency (the state of being freely open), by injecting contrast medium into its opening either
through the urethra or by incision into the vas deferens.
VENOGRAPHY: An angiogram of a vein.
VERTEBROPLASTY: A procedure used to help people with painful vertebral body fractures.
Medical cement is injected into the fractured vertebral body. When the cement hardens, it
permanently stabilizes the fracture, thereby relieving back pain.
X-RAY: A type of irradiation used for imaging purposes that uses energy beams of very short
wavelengths (0.1 to 1000 angstroms) that can penetrate most substances except heavy metals.
This is the most common form of imaging technique used in clinical practice everywhere in the
world, with the image captured on photographic film.
Radiology represents a branch of medicine that deals with radiant energy in the diagnosis and
treatment of diseases. This field can be divided into two broad areas – diagnostic radiology and
interventional radiology. A physician who specializes in radiology is called radiologist.