Different Types of Radiology and Its Techniques

What is Radiology?

Also known as diagnostic imaging, radiology can be defined as a specialty of medicine in which images of the body’s organs are interpreted in order to diagnose disease. So, the professional who specializes in the same is known as radiologists. These medical doctors undergo training to interpret medical images for diagnosis while radiologic technologists are the medical imaging professionals that use and manage the equipment for making the images. Radiologists interpret these images and give reports to referring clinical doctors ranging from surgeons, pediatricians, obstetricians, and internists to work as a team in providing medical care.

Radiology is the stream in the medical science that is vital for nearly every sector of health care, including surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, cancer-care, trauma-response, emergency medicine, infectious disease, and much more. Therefore a gap in radiology resources is a focal point of health care disparity that can break the chain of health care in poor regions. As radiology helps in diagnosing the disease or defect so, it is imperative to get tested through the techniques from the best hospital in India.

Types of Radiology Techniques:

There are 6 different types of radiology techniques to help screen for, diagnose, or monitor medical conditions. These includes:

 1. X-Rays (Conventional Radiology)

X Ray technique involves penetrating the body but a portion of the rays are absorbed by the tissue encountered. The unabsorbed rays are collected on film (analog image) or on digital media to produce radiological images. This is the most applied technique in most of the radiological examinations performed, particularly for studying the skeletal frame and the lungs.

2. Ultrasound

This can be defined as a technique that is used to obtain images of the human body with the use of high-frequency sound waves. Here, the high-frequency sound waves are the key that plays a vital role in obtaining real-time images.

This does not involve the use of radiation and is completely painless. The technique is that minute that can detect the blow flow from Doppler ultrasound. It majorly involves the examinations of different organs and areas of the body including like

1. The arteries and veins
2. Subcutaneous tissue and muscles,
3. The liver, bile ducts, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys
4. The genital organs (prostate, testicles, uterus, ovaries) 

3. MRI

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging which is a method that does not involve the use of x-rays but the electromagnetic properties of the human body when it is subjected to an intense magnetic field. The machine used to perform the examination is a very powerful magnet through which radiofrequency waves pass. The machine delivering the combined energy is used to detect the hydrogen atoms (protons) in your organs followed by the computer reconstructing images from the hydrogen distributed around your body.

4. Mastology (Mammography)

Like x-rays, mammography can be defined as an x-ray imaging of the breasts, particularly done for tumor screening. The additional test is then performed depending on the result.

 5. CT Scan

The device involves the use of a table for the patient to lie on and a special radiological device with an opening (gantry) into which the table will be inserted during the examination. CT scanning is especially useful for showing the various types of tissue, such as lungs, bone and joints, abdominal viscera, and blood vessels. It is especially useful for showing the various types of tissue, such as lungs, bone and joints, abdominal viscera, and blood vessels.

 6. Angiography

The technique can be used for examining the blood vessels in order to investigate arterial thrombosis, blood vessel malformations, detecting bleeding or vascularisation of a tumor, etc. This procedure is generally executed under anesthesia.

Knowing about the importance of radiology in almost every sector of the medical profession is popular and used especially in diagnosing diseases and further treatment is increasing day by day. The techniques usually involve utmost accuracy which is possible only in the best radiology hospital in Mumbai as the city involves some good options.

Medically Reviewed

Dr. Deepak P. Patkar (Director - Medical Services & Head - Imaging)

Dr. Deepak P. Patkar is the Director - of Medical Services & Head - Of imaging at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital with an experience of over 32 years. He has been an alumnus of world-renowned Cornell University, New York, and Guys Hospital, London. He specializes in modern imaging, with special attention to neuroradiology, small part ultrasonography, Peripheral Colour Doppler, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Mammography, and CT scanning. He is also considered an expert in Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Imaging.