Radiology is the specialty directing medical imaging technologies to diagnose and sometimes treat diseases. Originally it was the aspect of medical science dealing with the medical use of electromagnetic energy emitted by X-ray machines or other such radiation devices for the purpose of obtaining visual information as part of medical imaging.
Today, following extensive training, radiologists direct an array of imaging technologies (such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) nuclear medicine, and magnetic resonance imaging) to diagnose or treat disease. Interventional radiology is the performance of (usually minimally invasive) medical procedures with the guidance of imaging technologies. The acquisition of medical imaging is usually carried out by the radiographer or radiologic technologist. Outside of the medical field, radiology also encompasses the examination of the inner structure of objects using X-rays or other penetrating radiation.
A Radiologist is a subspecialty physician trained in all areas of diagnostic radiology. Board certification is earned through the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or American Board of Osteopathic Radiology (ABOR).
