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A lot of people
don't know what a radiographer does. It's nothing
to do with radar and everything to do with investigating
why people are ill or treating cancer. They are
at the heart of modern medicine.
 There
are two types of radiography, diagnostic and therapeutic.
Both need considerable knowledge of technology,
anatomy and physiology and pathology to carry
out their work.
The NHS employs 90% of all radiographers, with
other opportunities in private clinics and industry.
There are about 18,000 state registered radiographers
in the UK. The ratio of diagnostic to therapeutic
radiographers is ten to one.
Diagnostic radiographer
If you have an accident and go to hospital, the
chances are that you will see a diagnostic radiographer.
They produce images that are used to diagnose
injury or disease.
X-ray - looks through
tissues to examine bones, cavities and foreign
objects
Fluoroscopy - images
the digestive system providing a live motion x-ray
CT (computed tomography)
- creates a 3D image which can be split into individual
slices
MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging) - builds a 2D or 3D map of different
tissue types within the body.
Ultrasound - well
known for its use in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Also used to check circulation and examine the
heart.
Angiography - used
to investigate blood vessels.
Therapeutic radiography
Some cancers are best treated with drugs, some
with surgery and others respond well to precisely
targeted doses or radiation. Frequently, combinations
of methods are used to complement each other.
A radiographer may shrink a tumour to allow a
surgeon to remove it.
A key member of a dedicated oncology team, the
therapy radiographer uses radiation in highly
controlled conditions.
The radiographer is usually involved in every
aspect of the treatment, including pre-treatment
preparation planning, the delivery of the radiation
and the follow up stages.
For more information contact
the Society of Radiographers via their website
www.radiographycareers.co.uk
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