Radiology is the branch of medicine that uses imaging technology to diagnose (diagnostic radiology) and treat (interventional radiology) diseases and conditions.
Diagnostic radiology encompasses several subspecialties, each focusing on specific imaging techniques or areas of the body. Some common subspecialties include:
Neuroradiology: Neuroradiologists focus on imaging the brain, spinal cord, head and neck. They interpret images from techniques such as MRI, CT and angiography to diagnose conditions like strokes, tumors, cerebral trauma and degenerative diseases.
Musculoskeletal radiology: This subspecialty deals with imaging bones, joints and soft tissue. Musculoskeletal radiologists interpret x-rays, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound to diagnose fractures, arthritis, tumors and sports injuries.
Abdominal radiology: Abdominal radiologists specialize in imaging the organs and structures within the abdomen and pelvis. They diagnose conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys and reproductive organs using techniques like CT, MRI, ultrasound and fluoroscopy.
Cardiovascular radiology: Cardiovascular radiologists focus on imaging the heart and blood vessels to diagnose conditions such as heart disease, vascular malformations and blood clots. They use techniques like CT angiography, MRI angiography and ultrasound.
Thoracic radiology: This subspecialty focuses on imaging the chest, including the lungs, heart, mediastinum and thoracic spine. Thoracic radiologists interpret x-rays, CT scans and MRI scans to diagnose conditions such as pneumonia, lung cancer and pleural effusions.
Breast imaging: Breast radiologists focus exclusively on imaging breast tissue to screen for and diagnose breast cancer and other breast diseases. They interpret mammograms, ultrasound scans and MRI.
Nuclear medicine: Nuclear medicine specialists use radioactive substances to diagnose and (uniquely among diagnostic subspecialties) treat diseases. They interpret images generated by techniques such as PET scans, SPECT scans, and gamma camera imaging to assess organ function, detect tumors, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.
Pediatric radiology: Pediatric radiologists may choose one of the above subspecialties and may also focus on congenital anomalies and other conditions that are typically diagnosed in childhood. Because their patients are children, minimizing radiation exposure is of particular importance.
Interventional radiology: The American Board of Medical Specialties recognized interventional radiology as a subspecialty of diagnostic radiology in 1994. Interventional radiologists use imaging techniques to guide minimally invasive procedures for diagnosing and treating diseases. Examples include angioplasty, embolization and biopsies. Interventional neuroradiologists perform image-guided procedures exclusively in the brain.
The above list is not exhaustive, and new technologies may open the way for additional subspecialties.
