Radiology is a branch of medicine that uses imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease. Radiology may be divided into two different areas, diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology. Doctors who specialize in radiology are called radiologists.

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

The most common types of diagnostic radiology exams include

• Computed tomography (CT), also known as a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, including CT angiography
• Fluoroscopy, including upper GI and barium enema
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
• Mammography
• Nuclear medicine, which includes such tests as a bone scan, thyroid scan, and thallium cardiac stress test
• Plain x-rays, which includes chest x-ray
• Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging, PET scan, or PET-CT when it is combined with CT
• Ultrasound

INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Interventional radiology use imaging such as CT, ultrasound, MRI, and fluoroscopy. The imaging is followed by inserting catheters, wires, and other small instruments and tools into your body. This typically allows for smaller incisions (cuts). Interventional radiology often are involved in treating cancers or tumors, blockages in the arteries and veins, fibroids in the uterus, back pain, liver problems, and kidney problems.

Examples of interventional radiology procedures include:

• Angiography or angioplasty and stent placement
• Embolization to control bleeding
• Cancer treatments including tumor embolization using chemoembolization or Y-90 radioembolization
• Tumor ablation with radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, or microwave ablation
• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
• Needle biopsies of different organs, such as the lungs and thyroid gland
• Breast biopsy, guided either by stereotactic or ultrasound techniques
• Uterine artery embolization
• Feeding tube placement
• Venous access catheter placement, such as ports and PICCs

Imaging Techniques

Mammogram: There are two types of mammograms, screening and diagnostic. Mammograms are x-rays of the breasts, and therefore deliver a small dose of radiation. Screening mammograms are done for women that are having no symptoms, problems, or concerns and have never had breast cancer.

Ultrasounds can be done for screening purposes, as part of your annual exam in addition to your mammogram if you have dense breast tissue, for problem solving purposes if an area on mammogram is in question, or if you feel a lump. Ultrasound uses sound waves to make images of the breasts, therefore no radiation is used.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a screening and diagnostic test that uses magnetic fields and pulses of radiowaves to produce images. For evaluation of the breasts, this test usually requires an intravenous injection of contrast material called gadolinium. This will allow abnormalities in the breast to become highlighted. Some patients are considered high risk and may qualify to have this test yearly for screening purposes. It is very important that this test is done between days 7-14 of your menstrual cycle because hormonal changes can alter the appearance of breasts on MRI and may lead to inaccurate results. For this test an IV will be placed for the injection of the contrast. You will be lying face down with the breast coming through an opening in the table. The test lasts approximately 45 minutes and requires you to be as still as possible. Some patients are unable to have MRI and other women may have difficulty with MRI if they are claustrophobic.

Radiology is a branch of medicine that uses imaging technology to diagnose and treat disease. Radiology may be divided into two different areas, diagnostic radiology and interventional radiology. Doctors who specialize in radiology are called radiologists.

DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY

The most common types of diagnostic radiology exams include

• Computed tomography (CT), also known as a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, including CT angiography
• Fluoroscopy, including upper GI and barium enema
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)
• Mammography
• Nuclear medicine, which includes such tests as a bone scan, thyroid scan, and thallium cardiac stress test
• Plain x-rays, which includes chest x-ray
• Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging, PET scan, or PET-CT when it is combined with CT
• Ultrasound

INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

Interventional radiology use imaging such as CT, ultrasound, MRI, and fluoroscopy. The imaging is followed by inserting catheters, wires, and other small instruments and tools into your body. This typically allows for smaller incisions (cuts). Interventional radiology often are involved in treating cancers or tumors, blockages in the arteries and veins, fibroids in the uterus, back pain, liver problems, and kidney problems.

Examples of interventional radiology procedures include:

• Angiography or angioplasty and stent placement
• Embolization to control bleeding
• Cancer treatments including tumor embolization using chemoembolization or Y-90 radioembolization
• Tumor ablation with radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, or microwave ablation
• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty
• Needle biopsies of different organs, such as the lungs and thyroid gland
• Breast biopsy, guided either by stereotactic or ultrasound techniques
• Uterine artery embolization
• Feeding tube placement
• Venous access catheter placement, such as ports and PICCs

Imaging Techniques

Mammogram: There are two types of mammograms, screening and diagnostic. Mammograms are x-rays of the breasts, and therefore deliver a small dose of radiation. Screening mammograms are done for women that are having no symptoms, problems, or concerns and have never had breast cancer.

Ultrasounds can be done for screening purposes, as part of your annual exam in addition to your mammogram if you have dense breast tissue, for problem solving purposes if an area on mammogram is in question, or if you feel a lump. Ultrasound uses sound waves to make images of the breasts, therefore no radiation is used.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a screening and diagnostic test that uses magnetic fields and pulses of radiowaves to produce images. For evaluation of the breasts, this test usually requires an intravenous injection of contrast material called gadolinium. This will allow abnormalities in the breast to become highlighted. Some patients are considered high risk and may qualify to have this test yearly for screening purposes. It is very important that this test is done between days 7-14 of your menstrual cycle because hormonal changes can alter the appearance of breasts on MRI and may lead to inaccurate results. For this test an IV will be placed for the injection of the contrast. You will be lying face down with the breast coming through an opening in the table. The test lasts approximately 45 minutes and requires you to be as still as possible. Some patients are unable to have MRI and other women may have difficulty with MRI if they are claustrophobic.