1. Health Care Science Technology
Chapter 26 Radiology
Health Care Science Technology
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Objectives Summarize two primary roles of the radiologist.
Define radiologic technologist and identify three primary roles.
List the advanced practice roles of the radiologic technologist.
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3. Objectives (cont.)
Describe settings in which radiologists and radiologic technologists work.
Differentiate between invasive and noninvasive diagnostic imaging procedures.
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4. Objectives (cont.)
Discuss the steps required to protect the client and radiologic health care personnel from unnecessary radiation exposure.
Identify the importance of the Inverse Square Law.
Successfully complete 1 radiologic procedure.
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5. Careers in Radiology and Radiologic Technology 26-1
Radiologist
Radiologic Technologist
Radiology Aide
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6. Radiologist
Doctor who specializes in the use of radiant energy to diagnose and treat disease.
Works in hospitals, the private sector, or diagnostic imaging or radiation therapy treatment centers.
May specialize in diagnostic radiology or radiation oncology.
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7. Radiologist (cont.) Diagnostic Radiologist Job Responsibilities
Conduct general and specialized imaging examinations of the entire human body.
Noninvasive imaging – studies taken from outside the body that do not require the use of contrast media.
Invasive imaging – studies taken from inside the body that require needles or catheters to be inserted into the body.
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8. Radiologist (cont.)
Diagnostic Radiologist Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Maintain aseptic and sterile techniques and use standard precautions.
Use various imaging modalities.
Administer contrast agents.
Respond to emergencies and administer drugs.
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9. Radiologist (cont.)
Diagnostic Radiologist Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Use the fluoroscope.
Conduct the diagnosis of findings from all images and generate a written report.
Supervise the diagnostic imaging team.
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10. Radiologist (cont.) Examinations Performed by Diagnostic Radiologists
Noninvasive imaging is usually delegated to technologists.
Invasive imaging requires contrast media, substances that allow internal images to be viewed.
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11. Radiologist (cont.) Coronary Angiography
An invasive procedure that determines where a coronary artery is narrowed or blocked.
Angiograms show both arteries and veins filled with a contrast media.
An arteriogram is an image of only arteries filled with a contrast media.
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12. Radiologist (cont.) Fluoroscopy An imaging process.
Used to advance a catheter through the artery into the heart, and then into the coronary artery.
Radiologists look for lines that are narrower than normal, indicating the presence of plaque.
A line that stops abruptly indicates a blood clot, or atheroma.
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13. Radiologist (cont.) Radiation Oncologist Job Responsibilities
To determine a tumor treatment plan for a client.
To cure, relieve pain and distress, enhance the action of drugs, or to establish local tumor control.
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14. Radiologist (cont.) Radiation Oncologist Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Maintain aseptic and sterile techniques and standard precautions.
Use radiation to deliver treatments.
Identify the volume of the client’s body to be treated.
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15. Radiologist (cont.) Radiation Oncologist Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Explain the treatment plan to the client and obtain informed consent.
Use positioning and immobilizing devices.
Assess the client’s tumor response after radiation therapy treatments.
Supervise the radiation oncology team.
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16. Radiologist (cont.)
Radiation Therapy Performed by Radiation Oncologists
External beam therapy – usually delivered in daily doses for several weeks.
Brachytherapy – involves using radio-nuclide sources to treat tumors inside the body.
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17. Radiologist (cont.) Linear Accelerator (LINAC)
Uses microwave technology to accelerate electrons and produce X rays.
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18. Radiologic Technologist
Uses radiant energy to produce diagnostic images or dispense treatments.
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19. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Supervised by a radiologist.
Certified by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.
Can become members of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
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20. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Education and Employment
Fields include:
Radiography.
Nuclear medicine technology.
Radiation therapy technology.
Advanced practice certification areas are also available with additional education.
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21. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Continuing Education
Registered technologists must receive a minimum of 24 approved continuing education units within a 24-month period.
Otherwise, they must complete additional education and training to maintain good standing with the ARRT.
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22. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Employment Opportunities
Many work in hospital radiology departments.
Others may work in private physician offices, diagnostic-imaging centers, and emergency care clinics.
About two-thirds are employed as radiographers.
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23. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Radiographer Job Responsibilities
May perform fluoroscopy.
Use contrast media to make viewing X rays easier.
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24. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Fluoroscopy
Projects the X-ray image on a television screen.
Saves image on videotape, for viewing by a physician.
Can also be intercepted by X-ray film in a cassette holder, called a spot film.
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25. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Contrast Media
A radiopaque substance prevents passage of X rays to the film emulsion or digital imaging plate, which makes viewing easier.
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26. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Uses radioisotopes that tell how well the human anatomy functions.
Injects radioisotopes into the body.
Special cameras detect radioactivity, and the images are produced on the computer or on film.
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27. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Radiation Therapist
Assists radiation oncologists by administering radiation doses.
Works with other staff members to ensure comprehensive treatment of cancer patients.
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28. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Advanced Practice Roles
Cardiovascular-Interventional Technologist.
Computed Tomography Technologist.
Magnetic Resonance Technologist.
Mammographer.
Sonographer.
Bone Densitometry Technologist.
Quality Management Technologist.
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29. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Job Responsibilities
Maintains aseptic and sterile techniques and standard precautions.
Transports clients to the radiology department.
Ensures proper identification of the client.
Assists clients as necessary.
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30. Radiologic Technologist (cont.)
Job Responsibilities (cont.)
Explains the procedure in a courteous and professional manner.
Operates all equipment and accessories in a clean and efficient manner.
Positions clients for the desired anatomy to be imaged or irradiated.
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31. Radiology Aide Helps members of the radiology team by:
Transporting clients.
Keeping equipment and rooms clean.
Answering phones.
Filing.
Developing films.
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32. Section 26-1 Apply Your Knowledge
Name at least four fields of radiology including advanced practice areas.
Answer:
Nuclear medicine technology.
Radiation therapy technology.
Mammography.
Sonography.
Quality management technology.
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33. Procedures in Radiology and Radiologic Technology 26-2
Radiation Protection
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34. Radiation Protection Perform the procedure correctly the first time.
Use X-ray film processing techniques that rely on the time, temperature, and specific activity of chemistry methods.
Use lead-shielding equipment.
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35. Radiation Protection (cont.)
Collimate to the part of the body requiring exposure.
Use the correct film size.
Use the fluorescent screen-film combination that provides adequate detail at the lowest exposure possible.
Use proper filtration, collimation, and exposure techniques.
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36. Radiation Protection (cont.)
Use a protective barrier between the operator and source of radiation.
Maintain a safe distance of at least 6 feet from the source of radiation.
Wear a radiation badge that monitors exposure.
Work within established exposure guidelines.
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37. Section 26-2 Apply Your Knowledge
Summarize the Inverse Square Law.
Answer:
The Inverse Square Law states that the intensity of radiation varies inversely with the square of the distance from the source.
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38. Procedures in Student Text
26A Adult Posterior-Anterior (PA) Chest Radiographic
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39. Additional Procedures in Lab Activity Manual
LM26-1 Adult PA Chest Radiographic Film Evaluation Procedure
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40. Chapter 26 Credits Slide 6 Mug Shots/CORBIS
Slide 10 Scott Camazine/Photo Researchers
Slide 13 Yoav Levy/PhotoTake NYC
Slide 16 Pete Saloutos/CORBIS
Slide 17 (left) Doug Martin
(right) Paul Shambroom/Photo Researchers
Slide 18 (left) Paul Barton/CORBIS
(right) Mug Shots/CORBIS
Slide 23 Bettmann/CORBIS
Slide 24 Ouelette/Theroux/Publiphoto/Photo Researchers
Slide 25 (left) Mediscan/Visuals Unlimited
(right) CNRI/SPL/Photo Researchers
Slide 28 (top) Peter Beck/CORBIS
(bottom) Steve Chenn/CORBIS
Slide 34 Jack Plekan/Fundamental Photograph
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