A diagnostic radiologist is a physician who uses various types of images to examine a patient’s internal organs and determine the severity of an illness or injury. Radiologists, like other doctors, must go to school for a long time and then work as a resident to learn how to treat patients. When images are required, a primary care physician will usually refer a patient to a diagnostic radiologist.
A diagnostic radiologist can specialize in a number of different fields. Some concentrate on specific body parts, such as the head and neck, the musculoskeletal system, or the breasts. A radiologist can learn to quickly and accurately identify problems focusing on a specific part of the body. Other radiologists specialize in pediatric radiation, which is used to diagnose injuries and illnesses in children, or radiation oncology, which is used to diagnose cancerous growths throughout the body.
A diagnostic radiologist employs a variety of techniques to diagnose diseases and injuries. The x-ray, which is a machine that uses radioactive particles that are partially absorbed the patient to create an image of the inside of a person’s body, is one of the most common tools. Other types of images, such as those obtained in a computed tomography (CT) scan, can also be obtained and interpreted using radioactive materials administered intravenously or orally to a patient. A diagnostic radiologist can also interpret a magnetic resonance image (MRI) or ultrasound, even if they don’t use radioactive materials or processes.
A diagnostic radiologist usually collaborates with other doctors to diagnose a patient’s problem. Because the images are usually taken technologists or nurses, patients may not have direct contact with the diagnostic radiologist. The images are sent to a radiologist, who examines them and sends a report to the patient’s primary physician. The doctors then collaborate to devise a plan for additional testing or a diagnosis, as well as a treatment strategy.
To become a diagnostic radiologist, one must study for many years. Years of schooling, both undergraduate and graduate, as well as a number of years of medical internship and residency, are required to perform the job properly. New radiologists can practice their skills on real patients while benefiting from the expertise of an experienced doctor working alongside experienced doctors.