Radiology

Radiology uses medical imaging to look inside your body to diagnose, treat and monitor illness and injury.

There are two areas of radiology:

• Diagnostic radiology – a range of imaging procedures produce images of the inside of your body and are carefully interpreted by a diagnostic radiologist to diagnose disease and injury.
• Interventional radiology - uses real-time imaging techniques, such as X-rays and ultrasound, to guide biopsy samples to help diagnose cancer, inflammation, and infection; and to guide medical treatment including balloon angioplasty, cancer treatment, placing feeding tubes, gallstone treatment, uterine fibroid embolisation, and to treat collapsed spinal bones.

There are several different imaging exams. Some of the most common include X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, and PET scan.

A radiologist plays an important role in your healthcare. They:

• are expert consultants who support your referring physician in choosing the most
• appropriate test, interpreting medical image tests, and using these results to direct your care
• treat diseases using radiation (radiation oncology) or minimally invasive image-guided interventional radiology
• correlate medical image findings with other examinations and tests
• recommend further tests or treatments when needed
• oversee radiology technicians who operate the equipment.

No radiology is not the same as MRI. Radiology is the umbrella term for a variety of imaging tests. MRI is one of the imaging techniques used in radiology.

There are many tests done in radiology. The most common diagnostic tests include:

• X-ray – quick and painless tests that use ionising radiation to produce images of your body structures, especially your bones. X-rays diagnose arthritis, osteoporosis, bone fractures, infections, digestive tract problems, breast cancer (mammography), and swallowed items.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) - uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of your organs and tissues. MRI diagnoses joint and tendon injuries, aneurysms and blood vessel issues, stroke, spinal cord disorders, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
• CT scan (computerized tomography scan) – takes a series of X-rays from different angles around your body and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images of your bones, blood vessels, and soft tissues. CT scans diagnose tumours and cancers, injuries from trauma including bone fractures, vascular and heart disease, and infections. They are also used to guide biopsies.
• Ultrasound – uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your organs and body structures. Ultrasound diagnoses breast lumps, gallbladder disease, joint inflammation, blood flow issues, genital and prostate problems, and monitors pregnancy. It is also used to guide biopsies.
• PET scan (positron emission tomography) – uses radioactive drugs (tracers) and a scanning machine to produce detailed 3-D images to show how your tissues and organs are functioning. A PET scan diagnoses cancer, heart disease and coronary heart disease, seizures and epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

What happens at your radiology appointment will depend on your examination.

• X-ray - you'll usually be asked to lie on a table or stand against a flat surface to position the part of your body being examined in the right place. The X-ray machine is carefully aimed at the examined part of your body. A radiographer operates the machine from behind a screen or from the next room. You will need to keep still to ensure the image is not blurred. You may have more than one X-ray from different angles to provide more information. The procedure will usually only take a few minutes and you won't feel anything. Sometimes, a contrast dye is used to help show soft tissues more clearly on the X-ray and is given beforehand. This is known as a fluoroscopy exam. Examples include a barium swallow and angiography.
• MRI scan - you will lie very still on a flatbed that moves into the scanner. Your radiographer controls the scanner using a computer in a different room. You can talk to them through an intercom. They may give you instructions during the scan. You will wear earplugs or headphones as the scanner will make loud tapping noises during your scan. An MRI scan lasts 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of your area being scanned and how many images are taken.
• CT scan – you will lie very still on your back on a flatbed that passes into the CT scanner. It is different from an MRI scan as your whole body should not be surrounded by the scanner at the same time. The scanner has a ring that rotates around a small part of your body as you pass through it. Your scan usually takes 10 to 20 minutes.
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• Ultrasound there are three main types:
• external ultrasound scan most often used to examine a baby’s heart in the womb. A lubricating gel is put on the mother’s skin and the probe is moved over the skin.
• nternal ultrasound scan – a probe is inserted into your body to look inside at organs such as your prostate gland, ovaries or womb.
• endoscopic ultrasound scan – the probe is attached to a long, thin, flexible tube, called an endoscope, and is passed into your body to examine areas such as your stomach or food pipe.
• PET scan - a substance called a radiotracer is injected into a vein in your arm or hand an hour before your scan. You will lie very still on a flatbed that moves into a large circular scanner. The PET scan will detect the radiation given off by the radiotracer as it collects in different parts of your body. The scan usually takes 30 to 60 minutes.

There are a number of diseases that radiology treats. They include:

• cancer using radiation therapy
• heart disease and stroke
• gastrostomy tube placements
• uterine fibroids.

The costs of radiology vary from patient to patient. They will depend on the examination you need, whether it is diagnostic or interventional, whether more tests are required, and your chosen Ramsay hospital.

You will be advised of your examination costs when you book your consultation. Any further costs for more radiology diagnostic tests, treatments, or monitoring will be discussed and confirmed following your consultation.

Radiology examination costs are usually covered by medical insurance. Foetal ultrasound is usually covered if it is medically necessary. We advise you to check with your insurance provider for their written confirmation before your radiology appointment.

If you are paying for yourself, we offer a variety of payment options including interest-free finance.

You usually don’t need any recovery time after a radiology exam. They are carried out as outpatient procedures and you can go home after the scan is finished and return to your normal activities straight away.

You may have some temporary side effects if you had a contrast agent before your X-ray. For example, barium can make your poo a whitish colour for a few days.

After a CT scan, if a contrast was used, you may be advised to wait in the hospital for around an hour to ensure you don't have a reaction to it.

If you had an endoscopic ultrasound with a sedative to help you relax, you can expect to stay in the hospital for a few hours until the medication wears off. You will also need a lift home and someone to stay with you for the next 24 hours.

Also, if you have had a sedative for an MRI, you are not safe to drive, operate heavy machinery or drink alcohol for 24 hours afterwards.

You may be told the results of your radiology test soon after it has been carried out. However, usually, the images need to be analysed and a report sent to your referring doctor who will discuss the results with you.

The results of your scan won't usually be available on the same day. They'll be sent to your specialist to be discussed at your next appointment. This can take a few days or weeks.