Technology in Radiology

[Auron]

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I am currently a pre-med who is very interested in Radiology. I like the visual aspects of the specialty and the abilitiy to diagnose using imaging and various interventional techniques.

I'm really into technology, computers, gadgets etc and know that radiology is a very high-tech field due to the state of the art imaging devices used. I love using my hands and playing with cool toys, and I think I would really enjoy this aspect of the job.

Do radiologists personally handle the imaging devices/apparatus? What do you think lies ahead in regard to technological developments in radiology and it's impact on diagnosis/treatment?

 

[OHMAN0125]

I am currently a pre-med who is very interested in Radiology. I like the visual aspects of the specialty and the abilitiy to diagnose using imaging and various interventional techniques.

I'm really into technology, computers, gadgets etc and know that radiology is a very high-tech field due to the state of the art imaging devices used. I love using my hands and playing with cool toys, and I think I would really enjoy this aspect of the job.

Do radiologists personally handle the imaging devices/apparatus? What do you think lies ahead in regard to technological developments in radiology and it's impact on diagnosis/treatment?

Unless ur IR you really dont do much "handson" stuff or play with cool toys. Unless you count ur computer. Ur main job is to diagnose based on different types of imaging modalities (which could entail VERY cool technology, but u dont actually "play" with it). Your techs do most of the imaging.

 

[colbgw02]

Beware the black pearl, grasshopper.

Diagnostic radiology can be very hands-on. It's true though that most of the time we sit at workstations looking at images. After all, that's our principle money maker. But, it would be a mistake though to think that is all we do.

Here's a cursory list of procedures performed by non-interventional radiologists:

Mammo - breast biopsies (US-guided, stereotactic, needle-loc, MRI-guided)
MSK - arthrograms, bone biopsies
Peds - UGIs, VCUGs
GI/GU - esophagrams, UGIs, SBFTs, BEs, HSGs, RFAs, CT-guided biopsies
Neuro - angiograms, Wada tests, discograms (ugh), myelograms
Chest - lung biopsies
US - Sonohystograms, US-guided biopsies

 

[Auron]

hey ohman, thanks for your response. I had a feeling that was the case...I guess IR is the way to if you want to be really hands on and do procedures.

 

[Auron]

Beware the black pearl, grasshopper.

Diagnostic radiology can be very hands-on. It's true though that most of the time we sit at workstations looking at images. After all, that's our principle money maker. But, it would be a mistake though to think that is all we do.

Here's a cursory list of procedures performed by non-interventional radiologists:

Mammo - breast biopsies (US-guided, stereotactic, needle-loc, MRI-guided)
MSK - arthrograms, bone biopsies
Peds - UGIs, VCUGs
GI/GU - esophagrams, UGIs, SBFTs, BEs, HSGs, RFAs, CT-guided biopsies
Neuro - angiograms, Wada tests, discograms (ugh), myelograms
Chest - lung biopsies
US - Sonohystograms, US-guided biopsies

thanks for that list colbgw02, I will look up those procedures. I noticed that you were a resident - could you provide any advice to me as a pre-med really interested in becoming a radiologist? Also if you don't mind me asking, why did you choose radiology and what is the favorite/least favorite parts of your job?

 

[colbgw02]

thanks for that list colbgw02, I will look up those procedures. I noticed that you were a resident - could you provide any advice to me as a pre-med really interested in becoming a radiologist? Also if you don't mind me asking, why did you choose radiology and what is the favorite/least favorite parts of your job?

This forum repeatedly gets visitors like yourself looking for similar advice, but - in truth - it's very simple. Do all the things that you would be doing if were pre-med but didn't want to go into radiology. Namely, you should get good grades, score well on the MCAT, have meaningful extra-curricular activities, and try to volunteer to get a sense of what medicine is really like.

You can pretty much follow that advice up until the point that you have to schedule 4th year rotations during medical school. The one exception may be to get involved in some radiology research during your basic science years of medical school.

 

[f_w]

While you rarely push the buttons on the imaging equipment, being up to date with the underlying technologies is extremely helpful. This is particularly important if you are thrown into any type of decision making position within a radiology department. Administrative and technical people make their decisions based on their knowledge base, the knowledgeable physician-leaders input is often necessary to guide buying and design processes.

 

[MossPoh]

As more of a fast fact type thing, before the CT and all that fancy schmacy digital stuff was introduced, the radiologist was generally considered the expert on all the machines and how to use them. The techs would oftentimes ask the doctor for help on how to do certain things. When the introduction of the CT came along, things changed a bit. It really kind of rearranged the social structure of the radiology department at most (not all) hospitals. The technology evolved so fast that the jobs differentiated and the radiologist rarely went behind the controls of the machine to do the job if the tech was truly incompetent. Most of us (on SDN) weren't born, or were still pretty young when the transition came to a hands off approach with that facet. There is an ok journal article from the 80s that analyzed the evolving social structure. I don't think it is on this laptop, but if I can dig it up I will. I'll leave the real world medical applications to the guys that do it every day in here.

You're in my boat now bud. There is no shame in being curious (which is why I lurk around here) but don't concern yourself too much with it. Focus on those grades and all options will open up for you...that piece of advice is more precious than you can imagine as I am paying for NOT taking it now...dearly. If you want to expand your knowledge and are good with technology then see if there is a research program at your school. There are usually a couple of guys in Information Science, Computer Science, Psychology, or even the medical school that have a research project involving radiology going on. I've read more about PACS implementation and what not than I'd care to share, but it has been an eye opener with regards to the medical world as a whole, and not just radiology.