There’s a lot of confusion out there about what radiologists do, and that’s likely because in most cases patients rarely end up interacting directly with their radiologist. Although radiologists play one of the most important roles in our medical system, they often go unnoticed and unappreciated - working quietly behind the scenes to identify and diagnose diseases and injury. You won’t see your radiologist when you come in for your imaging procedure, and in many cases the results of your scan are given to you by your primary physician rather than by the radiologist personally.
Because radiologists are oftentimes back-end providers that the patient doesn’t directly interact with, it’s not surprising that many patients are unfamiliar with who the radiologist is or what a radiologist actually does. We’re here to clear the air and help explain the vital role that radiologists play in the medical imaging process.
What Is A Radiologist?
The American College of Radiology defines radiologists as “medical doctors (MDs) or doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques, such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound.”
To put it in layman’s terms, a radiologist is a medical doctor that specializes in interpreting imaging exams and performing procedures to diagnose or treat a variety of medical conditions. They use medical imaging procedures like x-rays and CT to diagnose everything from broken bones to serious heart conditions, and provide your physician with critical information on the findings of your imaging exam that will be used to diagnose and treat many different types of healthcare problems. Although they may not interact with them directly, radiologists play a very important role in the patients’ overall healthcare. If there’s something wrong with you, your radiologist is the person figuring out exactly what it is.
Are There Different Types Of Radiologists?
There are three main types of radiologists: diagnostic radiologists, interventional radiologists, and radiologists with a focus in radiation oncology. It’s important to note that within these main categories, there are also a number of subspecialties that a radiologist can get certified in. Some radiologists take things a step further and receive additional training to become experts within types of imaging related to a specific body area, such as Abdominal Imaging, Musculoskeletal Imaging, etc. Others may subspecialize in a particular branch of radiology like Women’s Imaging. Additionally, some radiologists prefer to work exclusively within specific imaging modalities such as CT or MRI.
Does It Matter If My Radiologist Is Subspecialized?
Understanding whether or not the radiologist who will be interpreting your scans has any sub-specializations in a particular type of radiology or organ system is incredibly important. If you’re undergoing imaging to try to diagnose a potential heart issue, wouldn’t you rather have someone who specializes specifically in cardiac imaging interpreting the results of your scan? Subspecialized radiologists have received extensive additional training within that particular area, and are better equipped to diagnose even the rarest conditions related to that area of imaging than someone who has not.
BICRAD’s Radiologists
We are proud to have over 100 incredible radiologists on our team here at BICRAD. Our radiologists come from all walks of life, and each one has a unique skill set that makes them a huge asset to our team and our patients. They have graduated from the most respected medical schools in the country, and trained at the top academic medical centers for residency and fellowship programs. Many have sub-specializations in particular areas of radiology, and all of our radiologists are Board Certified by the American Board of Radiology - a prestigious certification that indicates the highest standard of care available.
Radiologists are an integral part of the healthcare system and they are on the front lines of medical care, even during times of crisis such as the one we’re experiencing right now with COVID-19. If you live in the Bay Area and ever find yourself in need of diagnostic imaging, whether it’s a routine mammogram, an x-ray for a broken bone, a screening test for cancer, or something more, please know that you are in the best possible hands with our BICRAD radiologists.