A radiologist is a physician who reads and interprets images from a variety of medical imaging devices. These devices include x-rays using radiographs, fluoroscopy and computer tomography; magnetic resonance imaging or MRI, and others, like ultrasound.
Radiologists spend most of their time reading and interpreting images obtained by a radiologic technologist, and then recording their results and findings, which will be given to the patient’s primary care physician. Like other physicians, a radiologist job description involves understanding human anatomy, medical and scientific principles of human health. Additionally, radiologists need to have excellent concentration and vision, analytical skills and be detail oriented. They correlate medical images with tests and examinations, consult with other physicians and recommend additional imaging when necessary.
A radiologist job description requires interpersonal skills as they work with other physicians. Radiologists also communicate with technicians and allied health professionals who obtained the medical images for them. For instance, an oncologist requires a CT scan to decide the location and size of a tumor before treating it. A radiologic technician will operate the CT equipment to obtain the images. Then the radiologist will interpret the images and write a report. Based on the report, the oncologist will decide on the course of treatment for the patient.
A radiologist job description also involves treating diseases by means of radiation or minimally invasive, images-guided surgery, or interventional radiology. There are several subspecialties for diagnostic radiologists, including:
• Cardiovascular radiology devoted to the diagnosis of diseases of the heart and blood vessels using x-rays, CT, ultrasound and MRI.
• Breast imaging using mammography, breast MRI, ultrasound, and biopsy to diagnose the diseases of the breast.
• Chest radiology focuses on chest diseases, especially of the lungs and heart using diagnostic imaging, such as x-rays, ultrasound, CT and lungs biopsy and drainage of fluid from the chest.
• Gastrointestinal radiology will diagnose the intestinal tract, or the stomach and intestines and abdomen. The medical images are obtained through fluoroscopy, x-rays, CT, biopsy, ultrasound, MRI and fluid and abscess drainage.
• Head and neck radiology will diagnose the diseases of the head and neck through CT, x-rays, ultrasound and MRI.
• Emergency radiology diagnoses trauma and non-traumatic emergency conditions. The diagnostic imaging obtained through x-rays, MRI, ultrasound and CT.
• Genitourinary radiology will diagnose the conditions of the reproductive organs and urinary tracts using x-rays, MRI, and CT.
• Neuroradiology is subspecialty to diagnose the brain and nerve, head, neck and spine using MRI, x-rays, CT and ultrasound.
• Musculoskeletal radiology involves diagnosing the skeleton and muscles using CT, x-rays, ultrasound and MRI.
• Pediatric radiology diagnoses diseases of children. Medical images obtained through x-rays, MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, ultrasound and biopsy.
• Nuclear radiology diagnoses patients who have been exposed to radioactive material to obtain images of their heart, skeletal system and other organs, such as liver, spleen, kidneys, lungs, and others.
A radiologist job description is an important medical professional to help the treating physician arrive at a course of action for the patient.
