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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.
History of radiology
Radiology began with Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen’s discovery of x-rays in 1895.It was
such an important advance in medicine that within ten years radiology was being
used all over the Western world. In 1901, Roentgen received the first Nobel
Prize in Physics. In 1905 the first English book on chest radiography was
published. During World War I, Maria Skłodowska-Curie pushed for the use of
mobile radiography units for the treatment of wounded soldiers. She personally
provided the radon tubes for the French Army. In 1920 the Society of
Radiographers was formed. In 1924 Gilbert Stead published his Elementary Physics
for medical and radiology students, helping bring radiology to the level of a
generally recognized medical specialty. In 1937 a patient with leukemia was
treated at the University of California, Berkeley in the first therapeutic use
of radioactivity for cancer. Also in 1937, Joseph Gilbert Hamilton started to
use radioactive iodine as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent in the treatment of
thyroid disease.
As a medical specialty, radiology can be classified broadly into Diagnostic
radiology and Therapeutic radiology.
* Diagnostic radiology is the interpretation of images of the human body to aid
in the diagnosis or prognosis of disease. It is divided into subfields by
anatomic location and in some cases method:
o Chest radiology.
o Abdominal & Pelvic radiology. Sometimes together termed "Body Imaging."
o Interventional radiology uses imaging to guide therapeutic and angiographic
procedures. Also known as Vascular & Interventional radiology.
o Neuroradiology is the sub-specialty in the field of brain, spine, head, and
neck imaging.
+ Interventional Neuroradiology uses imaging to guide therapeutic and
angiographic procedures in the head, neck and spine.
o Musculoskeletal radiology is the sub-specialty in the field of bone, joint,
and muscular imaging.
o Pediatric radiology.
o Mammography.
o Nuclear Medicine is a subdivision of radiology that uses radioisotopes in the
characterization of lesions and disease processes, and often yields functional
information.
* A Radiologist is a specialty physician trained in all areas of diagnostic
radiology. Specialty certification is earned through the American Board of
Radiology (ABR).
o Nuclear Medicine, Interventional radiology, Neuroradiology and Pediatric
radiology have optional subspecialty Board qualifications under the American
Board of Radiology.
o Dedicated specialty certification in Nuclear Medicine alone can be earned as a
non-radiologist physician through the American Board of Nuclear Medicine.
* Therapeutic radiology utilizes radiation (radiation therapy) for therapy of
diseases such as cancer.
o While originally encompassed within radiology, radiation oncology is now a
separate field.
o Radiation Oncology specialty certification is earned through the American
Board of Radiology.
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