Whether you’ve sustained an injury or are experiencing symptoms associated with a disease, seeking out a radiologist has become a vital step on the road to treatment and recovery. Needless to say, radiology has made a huge impact in the medical world and has helped treat, diagnose and save the lives of countless patients. But how do you know if you need to see a radiologist?
How do you know when to see a radiologist?
In general, you would be referred to a radiologist for an imagery examination to provide
doctors with insights into what’s happening inside your body. These tips or examinations of scans are done with several types of machines and methods, including an X-ray, MRI, Ultrasound, and other imaging modalities. Reasons you would be sent to a radiologist include:
- Injuries like muscle tears, bone fractures, or ligament damage
- To detect disease early
- To provide data to allow the creation of a treatment plan
- To monitor treatment
- If your pregnant
- For any other health concerns
What is a Radiologist?
A Radiologist is a medical professional who specialises in using, treating, and diagnosing injuries or diseases by utilising a medical imagining technique that provides them with imagery of a person’s internals. Radiologists use various machinery for these procedures, including:
- X-ray machines
- CT scans
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Position emission tomography
- Ultrasounds
For more information regarding what a radiologist does, or to find a radiologist, consider getting in touch with Mermaid Beach Radiology.
Why should you see one?
So, when should you visit a radiologist? Well, before going to a radiologist, you would need to get a doctor’s referral first. However, there are a few reasons why a doctor would refer you to a radiology department, like:
1. If you need to diagnose an injury or issue with your body
If you have an injury that may need surgery or if there are signs of internal bleeding, a doctor would need you to go for an x-ray or MRI to get a better idea of the extent of your injury. Usually, if your doctor is concerned that you have an internal injury that requires more investigation, they’ll send you to a radiologist.
2. To detect illness early
One of the most common reasons for you to go to a radiologist is to detect diseases early so they can be caught before becoming a severe risk to your health and life. When symptoms arise, or if you’re simply going for your yearly physical, having a full-body scan can help you pick up any issues early. Radiologists are trained to pick up small abnormalities in the body quickly, ensuring that you can address any concerning issues promptly.
3. To help provide more information to create a better treatment plan
Nowadays, doctors rely heavily on the reliability and accuracy of medical equipment like
imaging systems. The more accurate and descriptive an image is of the body, the more data medical professionals have to use to approach treatment. Whether it’s deciding on how to conduct a surgery or if the injury merely needs rest, going to a radiologist would often provide the answer.
4. To monitor a treatment
For most injuries, treatment plans aren’t a once-off. They require weeks of follow-up and
recovery. Often, to follow the progress of how effective a treatment has been, especially if it was a surgery, the patient would have an MRI or x-ray done to observe the recovery of the infected area. So, you will also be sent to a radiologist to monitor your treatment.
5. When you’re pregnant
While pregnant women don’t necessarily have to visit a radiologist to have an ultrasound done, they may need to visit them if they need a more thorough scan. Be sure to inform the radiologist that you’re pregnant before they prep you for a scan so they can plan accordingly.
6. For particular healthcare needs
Finally, if doctors have any concerns regarding your internal health or are unable to find the cause of your health issues, they may send you for one or more scans to help you get closer to an accurate diagnosis.
Final Thoughts
Prior to seeing a radiologist, you’ll have an appointment with your general practitioner, who will check your vitals and symptoms and point to a suspected diagnosis. However, before they can confirm the diagnosis they will send you for a radiology appointment to confirm your suspicions. Your scan might include going for an MRI, Ultrasound, or X-ray. Either way, the radiologist will assist doctors in finding the root of your issue.
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