Diagnostic radiographers

Diagnostic radiographers employ a range of sophisticated equipment to produce high quality images to diagnose an injury or disease.

The identification, evaluation and monitoring of systemic diseases, skeletal and soft tissue abnormalities and trauma are the major focus of diagnostic radiography.

They use a range of techniques including:

• X-rays – used to look through tissue to examine bones, cavities and foreign objects;
  
• 
  Ultrasound – uses high frequency sound. This technique is increasingly used in obstetrics, including fetal monitoring throughout pregnancy, gynaecology, abdominal, paediatrics, cardiac, vascular and musculo-skeletal;
• 
  Fluoroscopy – used to image the digestive system providing a live motion x-ray;
• 
  CT (computed tomography) – provides cross-sectional views (slices) of the body;
  
• 
  MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) – builds a 2-D or 3-D map of different tissue types within the body;
  
  
• Nuclear medicine – uses radioactive tracers which can be administered to examine how the body and organs function, for example the kidneys or heart. Certain radioisotopes can also be administered to treat particular cancers eg thyroid cancer;
  
• 
  Angiography – to investigate blood vessels.
  

Diagnostic radiographers are responsible for providing safe and accurate imaging examinations and resultant reports in a wide range of clinical environments.

Significantly, radiographers provide this service throughout the 24 hour day, often working alone or in interprofessional care teams. They also deal with medical emergencies which may arise during examination and treatment.