Radiology

Medical diagnosis is the process of identifying a disease, injury or other undesirable reaction in your body. It is achieved by various methods, such as physical examinations, gathering medical histories, and performing diagnostic tests, such as MRIs, blood tests, X-rays, biopsies, and imaging studies. It is a crucial exam in the patient’s visitation procedure to a doctor. Healthcare professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and health aids, do all medical diagnoses. It does not always need to know the patient’s illness or what caused the illness in the first place. In the future, this kind of clarification will be necessary for treatment purposes. You have the best chance of a favourable health outcome when the diagnosis is accurate since clinical judgements are founded on a precise evaluation of the patient’s state. Based on clinical observations and physical examination, various types of medical diagnoses are carried out to identify different diseases. Radiology is one such type of medical diagnosis. 

What is radiology?

Radiology is a branch of medicine which uses imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases and disorders. It encompasses various imaging modalities, including X-rays, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine. The medical professionals specialising in interpreting these images to provide insights into your health and recommend appropriate treatments are called radiologists. Radiologists play a crucial role in modern health care by enabling non-invasive examination of the body’s interior structures. 

Radiology uses a variety of approaches, treatments, and techniques to reveal the body’s hidden secrets. When you go to the doctor for treatment for any disease, the first thing the doctor does is diagnose you by physical examinations like checking your body temperature, looking for injuries, and monitoring the heart rate and pulse. These are the external examinations of the body, but the doctor cannot examine the internal organs to give the right treatment. Here, radiology plays a crucial role in helping the doctor examine the internal organs of the body through many techniques and procedures. 

It can diagnose the disease by taking images of the abnormalities inside the body using radio waves, X-rays, magnetic waves, ultrasounds, and many more. By seeing the image, doctors can detect the exact problem, find the right solution, and give proper treatment by giving medications to the patient.

Here is an overview of the uses of radiology in medical diagnosis:

• Diagnosis: It helps diagnose the presence of disease.
• Monitoring: It monitors the stages of the disease and the progress of treatment. It also keeps track of the reaction of the patient’s body towards the medications.
• Guidance for treatment: It guides doctors in planning the treatment for the disease accordingly.
• Identification of disease: It helps identify the disease by detecting abnormalities in the body.
• Prevention of disease: It also helps prevent disease by performing early detection, especially in breast cancer, through mammography.

Role of radiologists

• Evaluating medical history and making sure the imaging process does not harm you in any way
• Interpreting the results of medical imaging tests
• Comparing medical image findings with the other examinations and tests to plan the treatment
• Writing reports of final results and diagnosis
• Recommending additional examinations or treatments 
• Treating conditions with the help of radiation procedures. 

Types of radiology

There are mainly three types of radiology: 

Diagnostic radiology : This kind of radiology aids in the diagnosis of a patient by giving radiologists inside picture of the patient’s body’s internal structures. Diagnostic radiology is frequently used to employ diagnostic pictures of a patient’s body. By using the diagnostic images, they can often:

• Determine the disease’s cause 
• Determine the signs and symptoms 
• Diagnose condition
• Monitor how your body is responding to a treatment you are receiving
• Screen different conditions like heart disease, cancers, and tumours
• Determine and monitor how well the body is responding to a particular treatment
• Keep track of the reaction of the body towards medications

Interventional radiology : A subspecialty of clinical radiography, interventional radiology specialises in using medical imaging tests to diagnose and treat disorders affecting the central nervous system, which involves the head, neck, and spine. Interventional radiologists use imaging and guidance techniques to guide catheters and other equipment around the arteries and veins in the central nervous system to treat conditions like strokes and aneurysms. Better results are achieved because the procedure is less intrusive and eliminates the need for traditional surgery. In order to guide the insertion of tiny catheters, wires, stents, and other devices through the blood vessels and into the targeted location, sophisticated and contemporary techniques and tools are employed. These tools can remove clots, unblock narrow or obstructed veins, impede blood flow, and provide medications. It is superior to regular surgery in many ways. This article explains neuro-interventional radiology, associated conditions, treatment options, and how team Fortis may help you recover from illness by offering cutting-edge care. Interventional radiologists use imaging techniques, such as CT, ultrasound, and MRI, to help guide procedures. Interventional radiologists use imaging guidance, like X-rays, fluoroscopy, and MRI, to carry out surgeries through tiny incisions or, in some cases, no incision at all. The main goal of interventional radiology is:

• To treat conditions mainly affecting the central nervous system, which involves the brain
• To relieve symptoms caused by the compression of blood vessels in the brain
• To treat conditions with fewer incisions, less pain, and faster recovery time to achieve the best outcomes 

Radiation oncology : Radiation oncology is often known as radiation therapy. It is a form of cancer treatment that uses radiation to kill cancerous cells or keep them from growing and dividing. It involves radiation. Radiation oncologists determine the optimum doses for specific types of cancer that maximise effectiveness and minimise any harm to healthy tissues. 

Diagnostics under radiology

Fluoroscopy : It is a medical imaging procedure which uses several pulses of an X-ray beam to show internal organs and tissues on a computer screen. It is mainly used for diagnostic purposes and to help guide certain treatment procedures. There are several types of fluoroscopies, such as:

• Esophagogram: It is a fluoroscopic imaging test which identifies issues in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which includes the mouth, back of the throat, oesophagus, stomach, and small intestine. The test involves giving the patient a barium solution, which makes the parts of the body visible on X-ray imaging. 
• Barium enema: It is also called lower gastrointestinal tract radiography that identifies issues in the colon and rectum. A barium solution is inserted into the anus, which coats the colon and clearly shows images on X-ray imaging. 
• Angioplasty: Angioplasty, often known as balloon angioplasty, is a treatment procedure that opens arteries to let blood flow smoothly without any blockages. It is performed to remove plaque formations and treat several conditions like carotid atherosclerosis. It is also used to treat conditions like coronary artery disease. It allows more blood to get through the arteries, which are narrow due to blockages in different regions of the body, especially in the central nervous system, which comprises the brain, neck, and spine. The procedure is as follows:
• When the patient is prepared for the treatment by giving medications that will prevent blood clots. The surgeon initially inserts catheters, or tubes, through the skin in the affected area into the blood vessels in the wrist. 
• X-rays are performed to view the movement of the catheters. The catheters are then moved through the blood vessels to remove the plaque responsible for the blockages. 
• When the blockage is found, they insert a wire and another catheter called a balloon catheter that contains a tiny balloon-like structure at the tip.
• When the balloon is inflated, it moves the plaque out of the way, allowing the blood to flow smoothly. 
• Then, the surgeon places a stent, which keeps the artery open and prevents blockages. The stent will have a drug coating preventing the narrowing of arteries. 
• Cystography: It is a fluoroscopic imaging technique used to diagnose bladder issues. Herein, radiologists insert a thin tube called a urinary catheter into the urethra and inject contrast dye into the bladder. It helps to show the images clearly. It is also known as voiding cystography. 
• Myelography: It uses fluoroscopy and an injection of contrast material to evaluate the spinal cord, nerves and meninges. 
• Hysterosalpingogram: It is a fluoroscopic test that helps diagnose female reproductive organs. 

Computed tomography (CT) scans : It is referred to as a CT scan. This diagnostic method uses X-rays to create images of the body. Usually, a contrast, a type of dye that aids in producing clearer images of the body, is used during the examination. It is administered to the patient via the IV route. CT scanning aids in diagnosing the infection and detecting masses, tumours, and other additional growth in the body. It is also helpful for medical professionals who practice medicine to study blood vessels. 

Magnetic resonance imaging : It is referred to as MRI scanning, which is a kind of image testing that uses magnets and strong radio waves to produce an image of the internal structures of the patient. Unlike CT scan, MRI does not use X-rays. Individual MRI pictures are referred to as slices. The pictures can be stored on a computer or printed on a film. Thousands of pictures can be produced in a single MRI scanning performed for each individual part, like abdominal MRI, cervical MRI, chest MRI, cranial MRI, pelvic MRI, and many more. This scanning causes no harm.

Mammograph : It is a kind of diagnostic radiology. The X-ray images of the breasts are taken, which is called a mammogram. It is employed to access breast symptoms in breast-related diseases, like breast cancer.

Embolisation : Embolisation is a minimally invasive procedure which closes or blocks certain blood vessels. It helps eliminate connections between the arteries and veins, closes blood vessels, causes tumours, and stops excessive bleeding. It is performed by using various tools like:

• Balloons, which block the blood vessels temporarily or permanently
• Gelatine foam, which is a sponge-like material made up of gelatine 
• Liquid glue, which hardens quickly to seal the blood vessels
• Liquid sclerosing agent that destroys abnormal tissues
• Metallic coils made up of steel or platinum 
• Particulate agents that block small blood vessels 

The procedure is as follows:

• Interventional radiologists, after sedating the patient, make a small puncture or incision in the skin near the wrist or neck.
• Then, they insert a catheter through the incision and move it to the affected area.
• Then, the fluoroscopy is done to view the treatment area and the instruments.
• Then, a special dye is placed through the catheter for enhanced views of the blood vessel and blood flow. 
• The embolic agents are then delivered to ensure the blood flow stops in the required area.
• Then, the catheter is removed, and the incision is covered with stitches and bandages. 

Biopsy : It is a form of radiology where a portion of tissues or cells are extracted as part of a medical test carried out by radiologists to screen for the presence of a certain disease later in the laboratory. This test is typically performed to obtain a sample of the body’s tumour or malignant cells. 

Angiogram : It is an imaging technique that uses X-rays to examine blood vessels and the body’s organs, particularly those related to cardio, like veins, arteries, and heart chambers.

How does team radiology support all the specialities?

Team radiology involving radiologists supports various medical specialities by giving essential imaging services that aid in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of patients. They help in,

• Diagnostic imaging procedures
• They work closely with specialists to interpret imaging results
• They make data interpretation and reporting to the physicians, and they play a role in establishing imaging protocols and quality assurance.
• They also collaborate with other specialties in clinical research and help in the development and invention of new imaging techniques. 

Conclusion

To sum up, radiology improves patient care in all medical disciplines by offering specialised imaging services, encouraging teamwork and guaranteeing that diagnostic data is precise, quick, and accurate to patient care. It plays a major role in maintaining, advancing, and enhancing public health by diagnosing, treating, and preventing a wide range of medical disorders.