Types of Radiologists

Radiologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury through the use of medical-imaging tools, such as X-rays.

Education

• Radiologists must complete medical school and at least four years of residency. Some radiologists will also complete a one- or two-year fellowship for additional, specialized training.

General Radiologist

• A radiologist uses X-rays, MRI, ultrasound and other tests to diagnose and treat patients. Radiologists also consult other physicians on test results, correlate test findings and recommend other necessary testing.

Interventional Radiologist

• Interventional radiologists treat diseases using minimally invasive methods. They perform angioplasty, biopsies, stenting, and embolization to treat stroke, cancer and other diseases.

Nuclear Medicine Radiologist

• Nuclear radiologists use radioactive materials called radiopharmaceuticals to get images of organs and visualize diseases. The doctors typically inject radiopharmaceuticals into patients' veins to treat tumors, cancer and other conditions.

Radiology Subspecialty

• Radiologists may enter into a subspecialty field pertaining to a type of disease, a part of the body or an age group. These subspecialties include radiation oncology, breast imaging, neuroradiology, pediatric radiology and chest radiology.