Difference Between Radiology and Radiography

Radiology vs Radiography

Radiology is defined as the branch of medicine that uses radioactive compounds and electromagnetic radiation or sound waves in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In diagnosing a disease, it uses radiologic imaging techniques such as x-rays, CAT scans, MRIs, and ultrasonograms.

If an individual wants to study radiology, he has to finish college and proceed to medical school. In his residency training he has to specialize in radiology because radiology is a medical specialty just like neurology, urology, and internal medicine. In the course of his residency training he has to pass a medical physics board examination, and after his residency he has to pass the American Board of Radiology (ABR) or the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) examination in order to get accreditation and a license. After that he can either start practicing his profession or he can go on to fellowship training in the subspecialties of radiology such as; nuclear medicine, pediatric radiology, breast and women’s radiology, or interventional radiology among others.

Radiography, on the other hand, is the process of taking images of the body using radiation to aid in the proper diagnosis of a disease. It is a very essential part of the medical science since radiologists base their diagnosis on these images. Radiography also provides doctors with a basis on how to effectively treat a patient’s ailments. It uses x-rays to develop clear images of even the densest area of the body. It uses magnetic energy to acquire images that are then shown on a computer screen.

There are several other types of radiographic procedures that use more advanced technology such as fluoroscopy which utilizes night vision technology, computed tomography (CT) which uses a special scanning machine that can produce 3D images.

Nuclear medicine utilizes the administering of radioactive substances into the patient’s system which give off radiation that are captured by a camera and provide doctors with a very clear and accurate view in how well the organ is functioning. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and mammography are also types of radiographic procedures.
Radiologists cannot provide an accurate diagnosis of ailments without the aid of radiography nor can they provide the right treatment procedures if they do not have a representation of the state of a patient’s organs. Radiology and radiography work together in order to provide patients with proper diagnosis and treatment.

Summary:

1.Radiology is a specialized field of medicine while radiography is a technology used in medicine.
2.Radiology is the diagnosis and treatment of diseases while radiography is the production of images of body organs which form as the basis for radiologists in the diagnosis and treatment of certain ailments.
3.Radiology takes a longer time to study since only those who have finished medical school can specialize in radiology while only a high school diploma is needed to study radiography.
4.Technologies such as MRI, ultrasound, mammography, CT scan, x-ray, and nuclear medicine are utilized by radiography to take clear images which are then evaluated by those who practice radiology.

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