Radiologist

Radiology is the medical specialty that uses imaging techniques such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI and other methods to look inside the body, help diagnose diseases and guide many treatments. Radiologists are doctors trained to interpret these images and sometimes perform image-guided procedures.

What they do: Radiologists review and interpret imaging studies ordered by other doctors, identify fractures, tumours, infections, bleeding and organ abnormalities, suggest further imaging when needed, and perform procedures such as ultrasound-guided fluid drainage, biopsies and certain pain-relief injections.

Common conditions evaluated: bone fractures and joint problems, chest infections and lung diseases, heart and blood vessel problems, brain stroke, tumours and bleeding, abdominal pain due to liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney or intestinal disease, pregnancy and women’s health issues with ultrasound, cancers in different organs requiring staging and follow-up

When to visit: usually patients do not visit a radiologist directly; another doctor (such as a medicine specialist, surgeon or gynaecologist) refers for imaging tests. You may interact with a radiologist when you are having an ultrasound, CT, MRI or interventional radiology procedure and want to understand what is being done and why.

Imaging and treatment methods: X-ray for bones, chest and some abdominal problems, ultrasound for pregnancy, abdominal organs, thyroid, vessels and soft tissues, CT scan for detailed images of chest, brain, abdomen and bones, MRI for brain, spine, joints and soft tissues with high detail, Doppler studies for blood flow in vessels, interventional radiology procedures such as biopsies, fluid drainage, stenting and some tumour treatments, close coordination with other specialists to choose the safest and most useful imaging test