Radiology
Radiology is a broad term relating to the imaging of structures inside the body. It gets its name because the earliest form of radiology, X-ray, involves radiation, and so do several other medical imaging techniques, such as computed tomography. However, imaging procedures that do not involve radiation, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, are still grouped together under the heading radiology.
What Purposes Does Radiology Serve?
Radiology doctors in New York and New Jersey can perform two different functions:
Diagnostic Radiology
Diagnostic radiologists take images of the internal structures of your body and interpret them to diagnose injury or illness. After a car accident, No-Fault radiologists may use diagnostic imaging to evaluate for broken bones, brain injuries, internal bleeding, and other serious injuries.
Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiology is used to aid in the treatment of some conditions. Some procedures require the insertion of small tools or instruments into your body, such as wires or catheters. Interventional radiology takes images of the tools as they are inserted into the body. This allows the No-Fault Doctor to confirm that they are placed in the correct position without having to perform a more invasive procedure.
What do Education and Training Do Radiologists receive?
Radiologists are medical doctors, which means they go through the same initial steps that all MDs do:
- Graduating from an accredited medical school
- Obtaining a medical license by passing an examination
- Serving a residency of four years or more
During their residency, radiologists receive postgraduate medical education in topics unique to their field. An additional two years of specialized training in a radiologic subspecialty as part of a fellowship can produce the best radiologists to treat a specific condition.
What Are Some Common Radiologic Procedures?
After a car accident, you may require one or more of the following radiologic examinations:
X-Rays
Plain film X-rays can identify broken bones and help assess other radio-opaque structures in the body.
CT Scan
A CT scan produces a specific type of X-ray. It takes multiple images of the same body part. The camera rotates around the part of the body to be imaged, and each rotation produces an image taken at a slightly different angle. The result is a series of detailed images of a specific “slice” of the body part. CT scans may be used to diagnose damage to the brain as well as injuries in other parts of the body that may be difficult to diagnose.
MRI
MRI is used to produce images of soft tissues in the body, things like ligaments, tendons, and internal organs that do not show up on X-rays. Another advantage of MRI is that it does not expose you to any radiation, as X-rays and CT scans do.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound works by reflecting sound waves off internal structures of the body. It is often used to diagnose conditions of the internal organs. Like MRI, ultrasound does not expose you to radiation.
No-Fault radiologists have specific experience in treating people injured in car accidents. To connect with radiology doctors in New York or New Jersey for an appointment, contact us today!