The medical speciality that makes use of X-rays, ultrasound, MRI, and radionuclide scanning for investigation, diagnosis, and treatment.
Radiological methods provide images of the body in a noninvasive way so that exploratory surgery is not needed.
The techniques also enable instruments (such as needles and catheters) to be accurately guided into different parts of the body for diagnosis and treatment.
This is called interventional radiology.
n. the branch of medicine involving the study of radiographs or other imaging technologies (such as *ultrasound and *magnetic resonance imaging) to diagnose or treat disease. A physician specializing in this field is known as a *radiologist. See also interventional radiology; radiography.
a branch of radiology in which complex procedures are performed using imaging guidance, which avoids patients having to undergo invasive surgery to achieve the same results. This is often termed ‘pinhole surgery’. Guidance is commonly by X-ray fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or computerized tomography, and recently also by magnetic resonance imaging. Procedures commonly performed include angioplasty and stenting of vascular structures, drainage of fluid collections or abscesses, stenting of obstructions to the gastrointestinal tract, embolization, cryotherapy, and radiofrequency ablation.... interventional radiology
(RIS) a computer database used to keep details of all the patients attending a clinical radiology department. It records patient demographics, imaging procedures done, medications given and dosage, person performing the imaging, and time and place of examination. Radiologist reports interpreting the images will also feature here. The RIS is vital to the functioning of a picture archiving and communications system (see PACS) and the electronic medical record system.... radiology information system
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