1. The science of high-energy radiation and of the sources and the chemical, physical, and biologic effects of such radiation; the term usually refers to the diagnosis and treatment of disease. 2. The scientific discipline of medical imaging using ionizing radiation, radionuclides, nuclear magnetic resonance, and ultrasound. SYN: diagnostic r.. [radio- + G. logos, study]
- cardiovascular r. the clinical subspecialty of r. concerned with diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the vascular system.
- chest r. the clinical subspecialty concerned with the diagnostic r. of diseases of the thorax, especially of the heart and lungs.
- diagnostic r. SYN: r. (2).
- interventional r. the clinical subspecialty that uses fluoroscopy, CT, and ultrasound to guide percutaneous procedures such as performing biopsies, draining fluids, inserting catheters, or dilating or stenting narrowed ducts or vessels.
- pediatric r. the clinical subspecialty concerned with the radiologic manifestations of diseases of children.
- therapeutic r. SYN: radiation oncology.
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1) the science of radioactive substances and high-energy radiations
2) a branch of medicine concerned with the use of radiant energy (as X-rays or ultrasound) in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
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n.
the branch of medicine involving the study of radiographs or other imaging technologies (such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging) to diagnose or treat disease. A physician specializing in this field is known as a radiologist. See also interventional radiology, radiography.
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ra·di·ol·o·gy (ra″de-olґə-je) [radio- + -logy] the branch of the health sciences concerned with radioactive substances and radiant energy and with the diagnosis and treatment of disease by means of both ionizing (e.g., x-rays) and nonionizing (e.g., ultrasound) radiation. radiologic, radiological adjMedical dictionary. 2011.