What is Radiology?
Radiological procedures are used for looking at the internal structures of the body, whether bone or soft tissue. Usually these examinations are carried out to:
- diagnose disease states, such as cancer or heart disease
- show if there is any injury to body structures
- provide treatments (interventional radiology)
- assist in the management of normal or complex pregnancy
- screen for the detection of abnormalities in well patients such as for breast cancer, aortic aneurysm, osteoporosis and foetal defects.
Different methods such as, X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Fluoroscopy, Mammography, Ultrasound, Barium Enema and DEXA are some specialised types of radiological imaging which may be used.
The Team
- Medical Imaging Technologists (MITs) or Radiographers perform your X-ray, barium and mammography examinations.
- Sonographers are MITs who perform your ultrasound examinations.
- Radiologists are specialist doctors who read and understand your films. They will also be involved if you have an intravenous urogram (IVU), barium study, mammogram and a number of other ultrasound procedures. They interpret the results of the images and send them to your doctor.