Who is a Radiologist?
A Radiologist is a medical doctor specialised in radiology and involved in the scope of medical imaging. They are specifically trained doctors who, with their expertise in medical imaging, can identify anomalies in a patient’s body.
Radiologists produce and interpret medical test images to provide conclusive reports with a correct diagnosis. These reports are used to assist in the treatment as they do not handle the general medical needs of the patient.
Usually, a radiologist acts as a consulting doctor to another medical doctor who serves as the patient’s primary physician or doctor in treating sickness. If you need a radiologist, click below to find the best radiologist in Mumbai.
Meaning of Radiology
Radiology, also called diagnostic imaging, refers to a series of tests, such as Computerised Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scans, X-ray, Ultrasound, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). These tests scan a person’s internal organs for doctors to diagnose them for illnesses. Radiology is the most effective go-to procedure to precisely identify an ailment.
Significance and Importance of a Radiologist
Radiologist, with technological advancement, has become a highly specialised doctor, like any other medical and surgical specialties. It is an intricate part of modern medicine.
Many medical conditions, like appendicitis, tumours, gallbladder stones, and cancer growth, can be precisely identified by a Radiologist. Radiology is a popular specialty in medicine that saves a lot of time in the treatment process. You can easily find a medical imaging provider or the best radiologist in Mumbai online.
Radiologist vs. Radiographer
Radiologists are fully licensed medical doctors that specialise in medical imaging. However, radiographers are persons or technicians who operate those machines.
Radiographers are not doctors, even though both professionals work with medical imaging. They are different from radiation oncologists or other radiologists.
Kinds of Radiologists
A radiologist may specialise in one or several radiology types. The following are the types of specialisation in the field of radiology:
Diagnostic Radiology: This helps the physician see the internal structures of a person’s body. Physicians with expertise in interpreting such images are referred to as diagnostic radiologists. They can screen for various medical conditions such as breast cancer, colon cancer, or heart problems. The common tests in diagnostic radiology include:
- Computed Tomography
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- Mammography
- X-Ray
- PET scan
Interventional Radiology: It is a subspecialty of Radiology that focuses on diagnosing conditions using minimally invasive interventional techniques. Interventional Radiologists use imaging such as CT, Ultrasound, and MRI to help guide the insertion of catheters, wires, and instruments into the body. This procedure usually allows for small cuts or no incision at all. A few relevant examples of such procedures include:
- Stent Placement and Angioplasty
- Breast Biopsy
- Tumour embolization using chemoembolization.
Radiation Oncology: It is also known as radiotherapy, radiation therapy, or therapeutic radiology,, which is an essential part of cancer treatment. The high-energy radiation displaces electrons from atoms and molecules to destroy cancer cells. The recent advancement of technology provides motion management systems with tumour tracking functions that specifically target radiation beams to cancer while limiting damage to other organs.
- Develop safety procedures during radiation treatments.
- Research new treatment plans for cancer, heart disease, or mental condition
How to become a Radiologist?
To become a Radiologist you need to:
First, get into medical school and complete 5.5 years of the MBBS course. Then, after graduating from an accredited medical school, 3 years of residency in the Radiology specialty will give you the MD Radiology Degree.
However, to become a radiology technician, there are several three-year courses along with Masters in Radiology specialisation. A good command of Physics is necessary to become a well-versed technician, as MRI physics is incredibly complex to interpret.
Also Read more about types of Radiology and get yourself aware of it.
Conclusion
The scope for radiology is expected to grow increasingly in the near future. In recent years, knowledge about radiology among persons with medical conditions has grown tremendously. In case there is a need to undergo medical imaging to screen for or help diagnose a medical condition.
Approach a physician along with a radiologist who is an expert in the field of medical imaging and has the skills to interpret the image results. Find the best radiologist in Mumbai who will help you with a detailed report of the imagery results.
