The Significance Of Diagnostic Radiology ?

Answer 1

Rheumatologists typically treat patients with Arthritis and certain disorders of the musculoskeletal system, as well as patients suffering from autoimmune diseases. There are over one hundred medical conditions which fall into these categories, including tendinitis, osteoporosis, lupus, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis. Certain of these can be very difficult to treat, and in some cases, can lead to the permanent disability of the patient. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list arthritis as the number one cause of physical disability in the United States, citing over eight million adults reporting physical limitations due to degenerative musculoskeletal conditions, as of 2010. Benefits of Diagnostic Radiology Radiology is regarded as a vital diagnostic tool by the medical community and provides numerous advantages over other evaluation methods. For instance, x-rays of the hands typically reveal the hallmark signs of certain diseases, such as the serious degenerative changes seen with erosive arthritis or arthritis that is rheumatoid in nature. Bony projections referred to as spurs may also be evident on x-rays of patients with various types of arthritis or certain bone disorders. Many rheumatologists rely heavily on diagnostic radiology in order to evaluate and treat a wide variety of illnesses. Tools such as MRIs, magnetic resonance imaging, and x-rays can be used to show the rheumatologist the exact intensity of bone and joint abnormalities as well as the level of inflammation present. Diagnostic radiology also provides rheumatologists with an avenue through which the exact degree of joint erosion can be determined, as well as to reveal whether or not ankylosis, the fusing of a joint, exists. With this in mind, it is easy to see why diagnostic radiology is an essential tool in the field of rheumatology. Since the early 19th century, substantial advancements have been made in the quality and precision of radiology tools and the software with which they are used. Certain procedures and surgeries that are performed to increase and restore an individual's mobility would have little hope of success if not for advancements in this field. Risks Although specific types of radiation such as that used in x-rays, have been known to promote cancerous cell growth, the Mayo Clinic states the level of radiation to which an individual is exposed during a basic x-ray series or MRI is very low, and in the majority of cases, will not result in damage to one's cells. As more advancements are made in this intriguing field, diagnostic radiology's role in the world of rheumatology will most likely become more and more significant as the 21st century progresses.