What's a radiologist?
What a radiologist does, and doesn't do
My one-sentence answer when I meet a patient for the first time is:
“I’m a physician who interprets medical imaging and performs minimally invasive procedures.”
But, there’s so much more.
Let’s unpack all that.
Radiology is a branch of medicine that focuses on using medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases. We’re medical professionals who specialize in interpreting medical images, such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, mammograms, and ultrasounds. Radiologists are experts in the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the human body. We apply our specialized knowledge and skills to help other healthcare professionals diagnose and treat their patients.
Supervision
One of our primary roles is to supervise the quality acquisition of medical imaging. This means that we work with radiology technologists to ensure that the images obtained are of the highest quality possible. We also work to ensure that the imaging process is safe for patients and that they follow the correct imaging protocols.
Interpretation
Interpreting medical imaging is another key responsibility. We use our knowledge of the human body and disease processes to analyze medical images and provide accurate diagnoses. We use a variety of techniques to interpret medical images, including visual inspection, quantitative analysis, and computer-aided diagnosis (CAD). Some radiology practices have used artificial intelligence (AI) to assist, streamline, or augment our work.
https://www.acr.org/Practice-Management-Quality-Informatics/Practice-Toolkit/Patient-Resources/About-Radiology
Procedures
Radiologists also perform minimally invasive procedures through needles and catheters. These procedures are known as interventional radiology and can diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. For example, we may use a needle to perform a biopsy of a suspicious mass seen on a medical image, or we may use a catheter to deliver chemotherapy to a tumor.
Consultants & Advisors
Besides our clinical work, radiologists also serve as advisors to clinics and hospitals on future developments in medical imaging. We stay up-to-date with the latest research and technologies in their field and help other healthcare professionals incorporate these advancements into our practice. Should our hospital replace one CT scanner with a photon-counting detector CT? Or, should we add a second tomosynthesis mammography unit? We also work to improve the safety and efficacy of medical imaging, developing new imaging protocols and techniques to improve patient outcomes.
Education
Becoming a radiologist requires extensive education and training. We complete four years of college, four years of medical school, a one-year medical internship, a four-year radiology residency, and may also complete a one or two-year fellowship in a specialized area of radiology. It’s a challenge to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in radiology — I spend between 50 and 200 hours per year on continuing education and professional development.
We’re not…
It is important to note we’re not the same as radiation oncologists. Radiation oncologists are the medical professionals who use radiation to treat cancer, while radiologists use medical imaging to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. Also, we rarely perform the actual imaging procedures themselves. Instead, we supervise professional radiology technologists who are trained to perform these procedures safely.
In conclusion, radiologists are medical professionals who specialize in using medical imaging to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. We play a critical role in ensuring that medical imaging is safe, effective, and of the highest quality possible.