Radiology

Brachytherapy is radiation treatment that is given directly into your body. It is placed as close to the cancer as possible. The radiation is given using tiny devices, such as wires, seeds, or rods filled with radioactive materials. These devices are called implants.

Read on to learn about the role of the radiologist.

External beam therapy is a type of therapeutic radiology that is delivered externally from a machine directed to the cancer inside the patient. Examples of external beam therapy machines include linear accelerators, cobalt machines, or orthovoltage X-ray machines.

Detailed information on radiology, including the radiologist, the radiology team, radiological imaging, diagnostic radiology, therapeutic radiology, radiation oncology, and interventional radiology

Detailed information on interventional radiology, including what procedures interventional radiologists do.

Nuclear medicine is a specialized area of radiology. It uses very small amounts of radioactive materials to examine organ function and structure. This branch of radiology is often used to help diagnose and treat abnormalities very early in the progression of a disease, such as thyroid cancer.

One newer therapy combines radiation and chemotherapy, because in some cases, radiation may improve the effects of chemotherapy, and vice versa. Another therapy uses external beam radiation during surgery to treat cancerous tumors or certain other forms of cancer.

Detailed information on therapeutic radiology, including information on external beam therapy and brachytherapy

Detailed information on radiology, including the radiologist, the radiology team, radiological imaging, diagnostic radiology, therapeutic radiology, radiation oncology, and interventional radiology

The radiology team is led by 1 or more radiologists. Radiologists interpret the results of exams, do certain procedures, consult with other healthcare providers in other specialties, and make sure of the overall quality performance of the entire team.

Therapeutic radiology is also called radiation oncology or radiation therapy. It is the treatment of cancer and other diseases with radiation.

Learn about the 3 types of radiosurgery. This treatment uses focused beams of radiation to treat cancer tissues without a surgical incision or opening. The treatment is called "surgery" because it creates a result similar to an actual surgical procedure.