Radiology is a medical specialty that uses imaging to diagnose and treat disease seen within the body. Radiologists use a variety of imaging techniques such as X-ray radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose or treat diseases. Interventional radiology is the performance of (usually minimally invasive) medical procedures with the guidance of imaging technologies. The acquisition of medical imaging is usually carried out by the radiographer. Depending on location, the diagnostic radiologist or reporting radiographer, then interprets or "reads" the images and produces a report of their findings and impression or diagnosis. This report is then transmitted to the physician who ordered the imaging, either routinely or emergently. Specialist physicians often look at images themselves although are less expert than radiologists. Examples include orthopedic surgeons reading X-rays and MRIs of bones and joints, cardiologists reading cardiac nuclear medicine and performing and reading coronary artery angiograms, obstetricians reading obstetric ultrasounds, pulmonologists reading chest X-rays and chest CT scans, etc.
