Definition

1. Noun:
   • The science or medical specialty concerned with using radiant energy (such as X-rays) or radioactive substances for diagnosis and treatment of disease: This is the primary meaning, referring to the branch of medicine.
   • The examination of the internal structure of opaque materials using penetrating radiation (e.g., X-rays): This meaning extends to non-medical, scientific, and industrial applications.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She specialized in radiology and now reads MRI scans at the hospital.
  • The museum used radiology to examine the contents of the sealed ancient vase without opening it.

Advanced Usage

• Interventional radiology: A subspecialty of radiology using minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases.
  • The patient's liver biopsy was performed by a doctor specializing in interventional radiology.

Variants and Related Words

• Radiologist (n): A physician who specializes in radiology.
  • The radiologist interpreted the chest X-ray.
• Radiological (adj): Pertaining to radiology.
  • They took all necessary radiological safety precautions.

Synonyms

• Diagnostic imaging: (Specifically for the diagnostic aspect).
• Roentgenology: (An older, less common term derived from Wilhelm Röntgen, the discoverer of X-rays).

Related Phrases

• Radiation oncology: A closely related field that uses radiation to treat cancer, often distinct from diagnostic radiology.
• Nuclear medicine: A branch of medical imaging that uses radioactive tracers, often grouped with or considered a subset of radiology.

Noun

1. (radiology) examination of the inner structure of opaque objects using X rays or other penetrating radiation
2. the branch of medical science dealing with the medical use of X-rays or other penetrating radiation