Radiology

Radiology is the branch of medicine that uses imaging techniques, such as X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound, to diagnose and sometimes guide treatment for a wide range of conditions. It covers everything from a routine chest X-ray to detailed imaging used to detect tumors, internal injuries, or structural abnormalities.

This branch differs from Nuclear Medicine mainly in what the images show: Radiology primarily captures the structure and anatomy of the body, while Nuclear Medicine focuses on how organs and tissues are functioning. Because of this, the two branches are often used together, with Radiology identifying a structural issue and Nuclear Medicine assessing how it is affecting organ function.

Some radiology procedures, such as a biopsy or the placement of a catheter, are performed using imaging guidance rather than open surgery, a field known as interventional radiology. Because different imaging methods are suited to different situations, the choice of test, such as an MRI over a CT scan, depends on the specific area of the body and condition being evaluated.