Get to know the profession of a radiologist

Get to know the profession of a radiologist

Radiology or radiological doctors are specialist doctors who focus on radiological examinations in order to detect, assist with diagnosis and treat diseases using imaging procedures, such as X-rays, CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and ultrasound.

In Indonesia, to get a radiology specialist (Sp.Rad), a general practitioner must take a radiology specialist education program for 7 semesters. Radiology is a medical science that uses radiation to scan the inner body, to detect and treat diseases.

Get to know the profession of a radiologist

Field of Work for Radiologists

Radiology doctors have an important role in examining and diagnosing various abnormalities from all fields of medical specialization, especially surgery, orthopedics, internal medicine, child / pediatrics, pulmonology (pulmonary), cardiology (heart & blood vessels), neurology (nerve), ENT ( Ear, Nose and Throat), eyes, forensics, and obstetrics and gynecology. Radiological examination is carried out with different devices, according to indications and requests from the referring doctor.

Radiology medicine can be divided into several main fields, namely:

General radiology (diagnostic radiology)

The field of radiology focuses on examining and diagnosing the causes and symptoms experienced by patients. This examination also plays a role in evaluating the condition and results of patient care. The most common types of diagnostic radiological examinations include:

X-ray

Ultrasound (Ultrasonography)

Fluoroscopy

Mammography (imaging X-rays of the breast)

Angiography (Special X-ray of arteries and veins)

CT (Computed Tomography) scan

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET imaging, PET scan, or PET-CT when combined with a CT scan)

Nuclear imaging.

Under certain conditions, radiology specialists will use special substances called contrast substances to sharpen and improve image quality, so that detection and diagnosis of the disease can be done better.

Scientifically, the general radiology field is divided into several subspecialties, including:

Head and neck radiology

Chest radiology (thorax)

Child radiology

Radiology of the urinary tract and genital organs

Breast radiology

Interventional radiology and blood vessel heart (cardiovascular)

Radiology of bones and muscles (musculoskeletal)

Gastrointestinal radiology

Neuroradiology or radiology of the nervous system and brain

Nuclear medicine

Radiology intervention

In interventional radiology medicine, radiology specialists use imaging, such as CT scans, ultrasound, MRI, and fluoroscopy, to help guide certain medical procedures.This imaging is useful for helping doctors when installing a catheter or inserting a surgical instrument through a small incision into the patient's body.

Interventional radiological examinations are often involved in the treatment of cancer or tumors, blockages in arteries and veins, uterine fibroids, back pain, liver and kidney disease, lung disorders, urinary and gastrointestinal tract disorders, to brain problems such as strokes .

Interventional radiology procedures include angiography and ring placement (stenting) in blood vessels, embolization to control bleeding, tumor ablation, fine needle biopsy on certain organs, breast biopsy, placement of feeding tubes (NGT or nasogastric tube), until catheter access to venous access.

Radiology oncology

The radiologist in this field is in charge of prescribing and supervising every treatment plan for cancer patients using radiation therapy (radiotherapy). The oncology radiology doctor will also monitor the progress of the patient's condition, and adjust the patient's treatment.

The assignment of a Radiologist

The main tasks of the radiology specialist include:

Determine the most effective and safe imaging test method for patients.

Carry out radiological examinations with the radiographer (radiology technician).

Analyze, evaluate, and read the results of the patient's radiological examination.

Determine the type of abnormality and the severity of the condition suffered by the patient.

Suggest a follow-up examination or treatment for the patient, if needed.

Clinical Authority of Radiologist

There are various clinical authorities in the radiology specialist. Following are the clinical authorities of the radiology specialist according to their fields:

Field of chest radiology (thorax)

The radiological examination procedure carried out includes conventional radiography (chest x-ray), chest CT scan, pleural ultrasound.

Musculoskeletal field

The radiological examination procedures performed include bone and muscle X-ray, bone CT scan, bone MRI, bone scan, and ultrasound (Doppler) joints and soft tissues.

Field of urinary tract and genital organs

Radiological examination procedures include intravenous urography, retrograde / antegrad pyelography, urethrosistography, micturating cysto urethrography (MCU), uretrography, urinary tract ultrasound (Dopller), testicular ultrasound, genitography, CT / MR urography, and MRI of the internal organs.

Gastrointestinal field

The radiological examination procedures include abdominal x-ray (abdominal), barium meal, barium enema (colon in loop), lopography, fistulography, CT colonoscopy, ERCP, gastrointestinal CT / MRI.

Field of neuroradiology (nerves and brain)

Radiological examination procedures include CT scans and MRI of the brain and spinal cord, MR myelography, brain ultrasound.

Field of interventional and cardiovascular radiology

Radiological examination procedures performed include angiography, venography, lymphography, myelography, transarterial embolization, guided biopsy (guiding biopsy).

Field of breast imaging

Procedure for radiological examination of the breast which includes mammography, breast ultrasound, MRI and breast CT scan, and ductulography (milk duct examination).

Head-neck imaging field

Radiological examination procedures include conventional radiography, CT scan of the head and neck area, MRI of the head and neck region, ultrasound of the neck area, sialography (salivary glands), and dacryocystography (tear glands).

Field of nuclear medicine

Radiological examination procedures include bone scintigraphy, renal scintigraphy, lymphoscintigraphy, thyroid scintigraphy, and hepatobiliary scintigraphy.

Medical conditions that can be detected through radiological examination

The following are some medical conditions that can be detected by a radiologist by radiology examination:

Cancer and tumors

Abnormalities in the lungs, such as: pneumonia, bronchial pneumonia, tuberculosis, bronchitis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumothorax, and hematothorax.

Abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract, such as: swallowing disorders due to achalasia, gastric acid disease, cholecystitis, peritonitis, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, hernia, to the presence of injuries to the gastrointestinal wall due to infection or inflammation.

Abnormalities in the urinary tract, such as: urinary tract infections, kidney infections or pyelonephritis, blockages in the urinary tract or bladder, prostate enlargement, and urinary tract stones.

Abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels, such as: congestive heart failure, heart disease, atherosclerosis, heart valve disease, heart muscle disorders, varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and venous artery malformations.

Abnormalities in the nerves and brain, such as: meningitis, encephalitis, cerebral infarction, stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, and hydrocephalus.

Abnormalities in the reproductive organs, such as testicular torsion, varicocele, ovarian cysts, uterine myoma (uterine fibroids), and uterine infections.

Abnormalities in the musculoskeletal system, such as: closed fractures, displacement of bones and joints, bone tumors, and soft tissue masses.

When to See a Radiologist?

The patient is advised to see a radiologist when experiencing symptoms that need further examination to confirm the diagnosis. Generally, patients are referred by a general practitioner or can also be referred by a specialist doctor who handles both in the hospital (hospitalization), or when outpatient in a polyclinic or doctor's private practice.

Preparation Before Radiology Examination

There are various examinations that can be performed by a radiology specialist. Before conducting a radiological examination, there are several important things that can support diagnostic results, namely:

Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the radiology appointment. If you must cancel or reschedule, contact the radiology unit at least 24 hours in advance.

Prepare and bring a medical history report and a radiological examination cover letter from the doctor who is handling you.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, possibly pregnant, or breastfeeding. In most cases, X-ray examinations will not be performed on patients who are pregnant.

Don't forget to bring a complete identity card, also bring some supporting documents related to the examination that you did before, for example the results of blood tests, X-rays, or CT scans.

Also inform the doctor about the drug or supplement you are taking. Also inform if you have undergone special medical procedures for the installation of assistive devices, such as pacemakers, heart rings, cochlear implants, spiral contraception, or pen on bones.

Some medical conditions, such as kidney failure, are recommended to consult the doctor who handles the examination, related to the possibility of preparation and special instructions that must be followed, especially if a radiological examination will be performed using contrast substances.

Some radiological examinations will require the patient to fast or take certain medications beforehand. Make sure you are fasting and taking medication according to the doctor's instructions.

Different radiological examinations have different requirements and preparations too.Make sure you consult a doctor who handles examinations.

Make sure the radiological examination is handled by a competent radiology specialist.You can ask for recommendations from the general practitioner who examined you.Make sure the doctor you choose is able to communicate well in explaining the disease and the handling steps you need.

Also make sure that the facilities and services of the radiology unit you choose are good, complete and friendly. If you want to use BPJS or other insurance, make sure the hospital is affiliated with BPJS or your insurance service provider. And don't forget to bring an insurance card when checking.

A radiology specialist is an important partner in health care, and they work with general practitioners or specialists who handle patient diseases to ensure the best care.

You should not buy time for the radiological examination that has been suggested by the doctor. This check will help the doctor determine the treatment to be given, so that it matches the disorder you are experiencing.

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