Explore Radiology Specialties at Radiologic Technologist Schools

Radiology is a growing field that uses a variety of medical techniques and technologies to produce digital scans of a patient's body. Depending on the patient's specific condition and which section of the body is being examined, radiologic technologists use different technologies to create electronic snapshots. Radiologic technologists, also sometimes known as radiographers or x-ray techs, can choose from a variety of radiology specialties and careers with lots of room for advancement. Radiologic technologists who concentrate in more than one specialty are considered highly desirable by health care employers.

Below is a list of common radiology specialties performed by radiologic technologists:

Computed Tomography (CT)

Computed Tomography, sometimes called CAT or CT scanning, is an advanced type of x-ray that combines computer technology with traditional x-rays to produce digital, three-dimensional (3D) images of bones, blood vessels and internal organs.

CT scans are frequently performed on the head and skull to examine it for tumors, stroke, injury and brain disease. Images produced with computed tomography provide greater detail by producing 3D, cross-sectional images. This makes them superior to the one-dimensional images created by traditional x-rays, because they provide neurologists and other physicians with a more comprehensive view of the brain and other internal organs.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging, commonly abbreviated as MRI, is a digital imaging technique that uses a combination of magnetic fields and radio waves instead of radioactive x-ray technology to produce images not just of bones, the way x-rays do, but organs, soft tissue and other internal parts of the body.

MRI technology is often used to help examine internal organs such as the heart, reproductive system, blood vessels and pelvis. It can help detect tumors, abnormalities in the blood vessels and arteries, and diseases in the liver or other abdominal organs.

Mammography

Mammography is a specific type of x-ray technology used to examine the breast tissue. The results, a set of digital images called a mammogram, are used to detect breast disease in women.

A new technology called digital mammography converts x-rays into electronic signals that produce digital images which can be read by computers. Recent advances in medical technology have created computer-aided detection (CAD) systems which allow computers to analyze mammograms for abnormalities and disease.

Cardiac- and Vascular-Interventional Radiography

Formerly combined as one specialty, previously known as cardiovascular-interventional radiography, these two sub specialties of interventional radiography both use catheter-type instruments to inject dye either into the heart (cardio) or blood vessels (vascular) to create contrast images of internal organs to look for abnormalities or blockages.

In addition to being used as a diagnostic tool, interventional radiography is also used for treatment of small fibroids or tumors. Doctors use the contrast images to locate the diseased tissue or blockage and then use catheter technology to remove the blockage. This technique is much less invasive than surgery and has improved patient safety and decreased risk of complications.