Imaging and radiology
Radiology is a branch of medicine that uses imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease.
Radiology may be divided into two different areas, diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology. Doctors who specialize in radiology are called radiologists.
Information
DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY
Diagnostic radiology helps health care providers see structures inside your body. Doctors that specialize in the interpretation of these images are called diagnostic radiologists. Using the diagnostic images, the radiologist or other providers can often:
- Diagnose the cause of your symptoms
- Monitor how well your body is responding to a treatment you are receiving for your disease or condition
- Screen for different illnesses, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, or heart disease
The most common types of diagnostic radiology exams include:
- Computed tomography (CT), also known as a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, including CT angiography
Computed tomography
A computed tomography (CT) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create pictures of cross-sections of the body. Related tests include:Abdomin...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Fluoroscopy, including upper GI and barium enema
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
Magnetic resonance imaging
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleMagnetic resonance angiography
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is an MRI exam of the blood vessels. Unlike traditional angiography that involves placing a tube (catheter) int...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Mammography
Mammography
A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breasts. It is used to evaluate some breast symptoms and to find breast cancer in women with no symptoms....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Nuclear medicine, which includes such tests as a bone scan, thyroid scan, and thallium cardiac stress test
Bone scan
A bone scan is an imaging test used to diagnose bone diseases and find out how severe they are.
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleThyroid scan
A thyroid scan uses a radioactive iodine tracer to examine the structure and function of the thyroid gland. This test is often done together with a ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleThallium cardiac stress test
Nuclear stress test is an imaging method that uses radioactive material to show how well blood flows into the heart muscle, both at rest and during a...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Plain x-rays, which includes chest x-ray
x-rays
X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging, PET scan, or PET-CT when it is combined with CT
Positron emission tomography
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to make images of organs and structures inside the body.
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INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
Interventional radiologists are doctors that use imaging such as CT, ultrasound, MRI, and fluoroscopy to help guide procedures. The imaging is helpful to the doctor when inserting catheters, wires, and other small instruments and tools into your body. This typically allows for smaller incisions (cuts).
Providers can use this technology to detect or treat conditions in almost any part of the body instead of using larger incisions and directly looking inside of your body through a scope (camera) or with open surgery.
Interventional radiologists often are involved in treating cancers or tumors, blockages in the arteries and veins, fibroids in the uterus, back pain, liver problems, and kidney problems.
The interventional radiologist will make no incision or only a very small one. You rarely need to stay in the hospital after the procedure. Most people need only moderate sedation (medicines to help you relax).
Moderate sedation
Conscious sedation is a combination of medicines to help you relax (a sedative) and to block pain (an anesthetic) during a medical or dental procedur...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleExamples of interventional radiology procedures include:
- Angiography or angioplasty and stent placement
Angiography
The blood vessels that bring blood to your brain and face are called the carotid arteries. You have a carotid artery on each side of your neck. The...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAngioplasty
The blood vessels that bring blood to your brain and face are called the carotid arteries. You have a carotid artery on each side of your neck. The...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleStent placement
The blood vessels that bring blood to your brain and face are called the carotid arteries. You have a carotid artery on each side of your neck. The...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Embolization to control bleeding
- Cancer treatments including tumor embolization using chemoembolization or Y-90 radioembolization
- Tumor ablation with radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, or microwave ablation
- Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
- Needle biopsies of different organs, such as the lungs and thyroid gland
Needle biopsies
A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Breast biopsy, guided either by stereotactic or ultrasound techniques
Stereotactic
A breast biopsy is the removal of breast tissue to examine it for signs of breast cancer or other disorders. There are several types of breast biops...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleUltrasound
A breast biopsy is the removal of breast tissue to examine it for signs of breast cancer or other disorders. There are several types of breast biopsi...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Uterine artery embolization
Uterine artery embolization
Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a procedure to treat fibroids without surgery. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous (benign) tumors that develop i...
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- Venous access catheter placement, such as ports and PICCs
Reviewed By
Jason Levy, MD, FSIR, Northside Radiology Associates, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Mettler FA. Introduction. In: Mettler FA, ed. Essentials of Radiology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 1.
Quintana D, Salsamendi J, Kwolek K, Munera F. Interventional radiology: diagnostic and therapeutic roles. In: Asensio JA, Meredith JW, eds. Current Therapy of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:125-134.
Rosewarne DM. General notes. In: Watson N, Jones H, eds. Chapman & Nakielny's Guide to Radiological Procedures. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 1.
Spratt J. Technical aspects and applications of diagnostic radiology. In: Standring S, ed. Gray's Anatomy. 42nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 81.2.
Zeman EM, Schreiber EC, Tepper JE. Basics of radiation therapy. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 27.