5 answers
Jolie
Student
Ambler, Pennsylvania
3
Questions
Asked
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Are there different types of radiologists, and if so, what is the difference between them?
I am interested in radiology but feel like I need to become more educated on what it really is and how to get there.
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5 answers
Hany Abdulfattah
Pharmacist
14
Answers
Kuwait City, Al Asimah Governate, Kuwait
Updated
Hany’s Answer
A radiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions using imaging equipment. Radiologists often specialize in specific areas of radiology, such as pediatric radiology, oncology radiology or interventional radiology.
There are three main types of radiology:
Diagnostic radiology.
Interventional radiology.
Radiation oncology.
Each of these branches of radiology has several subspecialties.
Diagnostic radiology
Diagnostic radiology helps healthcare providers see structures inside your body. Diagnostic radiologists are experts in interpreting these images. Using the diagnostic images, they can often:
Diagnose conditions.
Monitor how your body is responding to a treatment you’re receiving.
Screen for different conditions, such as breast cancer, colon cancer or heart disease.
Interventional radiology
Interventional radiologists use imaging techniques, such as CT, ultrasound and MRI, to help guide procedures. The imaging is helpful when your provider inserts catheters, wires and other small tools into your body. This typically allows for smaller incisions (cuts).
Examples of conditions that interventional radiologists are often involved in treating include:
Cancers or tumors.
Blockages in your arteries or veins.
Uterine fibroids.
Back pain.
Liver and kidney issues.
Radiation oncology
Some imaging techniques involve radiation. When used for imaging purposes, radiation can’t treat conditions. However, certain radiologists called radiation oncologists have expertise in using radiation therapy to treat cancer and some benign (noncancerous) conditions.
Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses radiation (strong beams of energy) to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing and dividing.
Radiation oncologists determine the optimum doses for specific types of cancer that maximize effectiveness and minimize any harm to healthy tissues. A radiation oncologist knows what type of therapy is best suited for you and your specific type of cancer.
There are three main types of radiology:
Diagnostic radiology.
Interventional radiology.
Radiation oncology.
Each of these branches of radiology has several subspecialties.
Diagnostic radiology
Diagnostic radiology helps healthcare providers see structures inside your body. Diagnostic radiologists are experts in interpreting these images. Using the diagnostic images, they can often:
Diagnose conditions.
Monitor how your body is responding to a treatment you’re receiving.
Screen for different conditions, such as breast cancer, colon cancer or heart disease.
Interventional radiology
Interventional radiologists use imaging techniques, such as CT, ultrasound and MRI, to help guide procedures. The imaging is helpful when your provider inserts catheters, wires and other small tools into your body. This typically allows for smaller incisions (cuts).
Examples of conditions that interventional radiologists are often involved in treating include:
Cancers or tumors.
Blockages in your arteries or veins.
Uterine fibroids.
Back pain.
Liver and kidney issues.
Radiation oncology
Some imaging techniques involve radiation. When used for imaging purposes, radiation can’t treat conditions. However, certain radiologists called radiation oncologists have expertise in using radiation therapy to treat cancer and some benign (noncancerous) conditions.
Radiation therapy is a form of cancer treatment that uses radiation (strong beams of energy) to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing and dividing.
Radiation oncologists determine the optimum doses for specific types of cancer that maximize effectiveness and minimize any harm to healthy tissues. A radiation oncologist knows what type of therapy is best suited for you and your specific type of cancer.
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this.
Jolie
Liane Curley
Xray and CT Technologist
2
Answers
Franklin, New Hampshire
Updated
Liane’s Answer
Radiologist go thru similar process as medical doctors. They just specialize in radiology. Radiologists can subspecialize into different reading specialties (breast, musculoskeletal, pediatric, neurology) or can do interventional radiology. Interventional radiologists perform exams such as cardiac catheterization, removing blood clots, embolizing small arterial bleeds, perform CT guided biopsy and much more utilizing fluoroscopy.
If you don't want to go thru years of schooling, you can study radiology science and become a Radiologic Technologist. Depending on the state it usually is an associate degree and national credentialing examination. Not only can technologists do Xrays, eventually they can perform other imaging studies (MRI, CT, Nuclear medicine, mammography, or bone density). Technologists can specialize in interventional radiology and assist with all the mentioned procedures radiologists perform! With a few months extra schooling, you can learn ultrasound or cardiac ultrasound (depending on the state). Technologists also go to the operating room and run C-arms or O-arms for surgeons.
It's a great field to be employed in, I'm a CT/Xray radiologic technologist and love it.
If you don't want to go thru years of schooling, you can study radiology science and become a Radiologic Technologist. Depending on the state it usually is an associate degree and national credentialing examination. Not only can technologists do Xrays, eventually they can perform other imaging studies (MRI, CT, Nuclear medicine, mammography, or bone density). Technologists can specialize in interventional radiology and assist with all the mentioned procedures radiologists perform! With a few months extra schooling, you can learn ultrasound or cardiac ultrasound (depending on the state). Technologists also go to the operating room and run C-arms or O-arms for surgeons.
It's a great field to be employed in, I'm a CT/Xray radiologic technologist and love it.
Thank you so much!! This is super helpful.
Jolie
Mandy Rice
Surgeon
3
Answers
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Updated
Mandy’s Answer
Radiologists are doctors who train specifically in looking at all different types of patient imaging, like X-rays and CAT scans, and make specific determinations about pathologies and abnormalities. After college and 4 years of Medical School, Radiologists have to do 4-5 years of specific training (called Residency and maybe even Fellowship) to be able to be a Radiologist. They have to then take a big exam to become Board Certified in their field. There are general Radiologist (that can read the typical exams) and there are more specific subspecialties, like Breast Radiologist that read breast mammograms and breast ultrasound exams. Some specialized Radiologist know how to read very difficult tests like PET scans and MRIs looking for specific cancers. There are even Interventional Radiologists that have extra training in certain procedures like placing devices into patients bodies or running more invasive testing on patients. Those subspecialties require the Fellowship that I mentioned before. It is an extra 1 to 2 years of training.
Thank you for taking the time to help.
Jolie
Alan Schneider
Physician
1
Answer
Newport Beach, California
Updated
Alan’s Answer
There are radiologists that specializzata in different procedures like working in interventional radiology and others that specializzata in different body areas
Wendell Wilmoth
Radiologist
2
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Wendell’s Answer
Hi Jolie,
You've received some great information about radiology. As a radiologist, I can add a little more information. I enjoy radiology because I deal with all areas of medicine in my job, from family practice, geriatrics, and internal medicine to specialties like surgery, neurosurgery, neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, cardiology, obstetrics/gynecology, endocrinology, pathology, orthopedics, podiatry, pediatrics, and oncology.
Radiologists can work in different settings like hospitals or private practices. If you're interested in doing research, a hospital setting would be most beneficial for you. I worked at a small community hospital in beautiful and remote Kodiak, Alaska for the first 10 years of my practice.
I now work at home full time as a teleradiologist. This is possible because most radiology studies, after being performed by the technicians, are computer based and can be accessed from anywhere over the internet. But I don't get any patient interaction in my current job, and don't get to do procedures like joint injections, abscess drains, gastrointestinal fluoroscopic studies, biopsies, chest tubes, and other similar tasks.
I am a general radiologist and did not do a fellowship. Specialties requiring an additional fellowship after residency include neuroradiology (studies of the brain and spine), pediatric radiology, breast imaging, musculoskeletal (bones, spine, and joints), gastrointestinal, chest/cardiac, and interventional radiology (surgical procedures). Radiologists can also do nuclear medicine, using radiopharmaceuticals and special detection equipment to diagnose, monitor, and treat different diseases.
Hope this helps, and good luck in your endeavors!
You've received some great information about radiology. As a radiologist, I can add a little more information. I enjoy radiology because I deal with all areas of medicine in my job, from family practice, geriatrics, and internal medicine to specialties like surgery, neurosurgery, neurology, gastroenterology, pulmonology, cardiology, obstetrics/gynecology, endocrinology, pathology, orthopedics, podiatry, pediatrics, and oncology.
Radiologists can work in different settings like hospitals or private practices. If you're interested in doing research, a hospital setting would be most beneficial for you. I worked at a small community hospital in beautiful and remote Kodiak, Alaska for the first 10 years of my practice.
I now work at home full time as a teleradiologist. This is possible because most radiology studies, after being performed by the technicians, are computer based and can be accessed from anywhere over the internet. But I don't get any patient interaction in my current job, and don't get to do procedures like joint injections, abscess drains, gastrointestinal fluoroscopic studies, biopsies, chest tubes, and other similar tasks.
I am a general radiologist and did not do a fellowship. Specialties requiring an additional fellowship after residency include neuroradiology (studies of the brain and spine), pediatric radiology, breast imaging, musculoskeletal (bones, spine, and joints), gastrointestinal, chest/cardiac, and interventional radiology (surgical procedures). Radiologists can also do nuclear medicine, using radiopharmaceuticals and special detection equipment to diagnose, monitor, and treat different diseases.
Hope this helps, and good luck in your endeavors!
This was super helpful, thank you!
Jolie