|
When it comes to seeing
the inside of your body, radiologists are the ones who know how to take,
read, and interpret pictures that will help you get better. Diagnostic
imaging is an invaluable tool in helping diagnose problems. Radiologists
do a number of things, but there are three general concepts that will
help you better understand what they do.
Choosing the Right Test
When it comes to
scanning the inside of your body, a radiologist is an expert on which
test is needed to assess your specific condition. If you are
experiencing a problem, and your doctor determines, for example, that an
x-ray is needed, the radiologist double-checks to be sure that an x-ray
really is the best test to see what is happening inside your body. If
you are experiencing back or spinal pain, he may determine that an MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging) is the best way to confirm or deny a
diagnosis. It is very important that the right test is chosen; just as
you wouldn’t use a fork to eat soup, certain tests are the perfect tool
for diagnosis in one situation, but won’t do any good in another.
Performing the Test Correctly
Not only does a
radiologist make sure the correct test is being conducted, he also
ensures the test is being conducted properly. While working with your
main doctor, the radiologist also works behind the scenes to make sure
all staff and imaging machines are performing at their very best.
Because every person’s body differs from the next, the radiologist makes
sure the machine is set specifically to your body type and that it will
take the best possible picture of your body, given your specific height,
weight, and so forth. Radiologists are experts in knowing how to achieve
the optimal output from each imaging machine for each individual.
Your radiologist also
knows how to help you prepare for a specific test. He will provide you
with detailed instructions or advice on ways you can help him achieve
the best possible image, such as drinking special liquids before your
test or positioning your body during the test.
Understanding the Results
It seems that if
someone could just see a picture of what is happening inside your body,
he could see the problem and assess the situation. This is not the
case—not everyone can get the information needed from a diagnostic image
because diagnostic images are very difficult to read.
Radiologists are highly
trained in reading the scans that imaging tests produce. When a test
creates an image of your body, a radiologist knows exactly what the
resulting image should look like in a healthy body and what any
variation might mean.
Once the radiologist
sees the image and interprets what is going on in your body, he will
write a detailed report of the image and send it to your primary care
doctor. With these results, your doctor will determine how to treat the
problem, if there is one at all.
Knowing the role
radiologists play in your health care can help you feel more confident
in the decisions being made and can help you play a part in getting the
best results from your diagnostic imaging exams.
|