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Radiology is the branch of medicine that deals with the detection and monitoring of diseases through the use of imaging techniques. Radiologists are medical professionals who specialize in the diagnosis and management of image-related patient care. The first use of X-rays dates back to 1896, when German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered them while experimenting with discharge tubes. With his new discovery, Röntgen was able to demonstrate that exposure to these rays produced an image on a photographic plate on the other side of the room where a device known as a vacuum tube was operating. That same year he published his discoveries about this new type of rays; however, people were slow to realize the possible applications of radiography for medical purposes.
1900s: From experimentation to medical use
The first use of X-rays for medical purposes began in 1900, when British physician John T. Scanlon used them to examine the chest and abdomen. In 1901, William Roentgen (Röntgen's surname was shortened to Roentgen when he was admitted to the British Society of Electrical Engineers) performed the first X-ray examination of the human body. Roentgen's discovery was initially used to examine bones and the bone system, but it soon became apparent that this new imaging technique could reveal diseases in other organs and tissues, such as the lungs, the abdominal region and the heart. For example, these rays could be used to determine if a patient had tuberculosis or if there were broken bones. The first hospitals with X-ray departments opened in the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States and France in the early 20th century.
1920s: Becomes a standard of care in medicine
At the beginning of the 20th century, the first specialized clinics were created that used X-rays for the diagnosis of diseases. In the United States, radiologists began training in this new field and the first radiology departments were created in some universities. As the new century progressed, X-rays became increasingly popular and the number of radiology departments increased, as did the number of radiologists. As radiologists gained more experience and knowledge in the use of X-rays, they began to develop other imaging techniques, such as fluoroscopy. This imaging technique uses X-rays to visualize internal organs and the functioning of the human body.
1930s - 1940s: Growing experience in radiology
During the Great Depression, radiologists specialized as the field of radiology was increasingly recognized as a medical discipline requiring specific training and skills. In the 1930s, the American Roentgen Ray Society (ARRS) was created and the first American Board of Radiology was formed. With the outbreak of World War II, the number of radiology departments in the United States declined, as military-age radiologists were called to serve in the armed forces. As many of them enlisted, the country experienced a shortage of radiologists. However, the war also led to the development of new imaging techniques, such as fluoroscopy. In the following years, radiologists continued to focus on distinguishing the normal anatomy of the human body from the abnormal anatomy that could indicate the presence of a disease.
1955: First CT scan and the birth of magnetic resonance imaging.
During the 1950s, radiologists continued to develop and improve imaging techniques. One of the most significant innovations was the introduction of the first computed tomography (CT) or computerized axial tomography (CT) scanner. The first CT scanner was built at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It was capable of producing cross sections of the human body in a few seconds, which were then reconstructed into a 3D image. This new imaging technique was called computed tomography (CT) because beams of X-rays passed through tissue and were received by special detectors that were then inserted into a computer that created an image from that data. Other imaging techniques, such as fluoroscopy, also improved during this decade. In 1955, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) was created. This group was responsible for standardizing diagnostic imaging techniques. # 2000s - present: 21st century technologies With the 21st century, new medical discoveries and the invention of new imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) came. MRI uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to image soft tissues in the body, such as muscles and the brain. MRI is a variant of MRI in which magnetic fields and radio waves are disconnected; instead, the machine uses the brain's metabolic activity to produce images. PET images use small amounts of radioactive material that are injected into the blood stream to visualize the body's metabolic activities. These modern imaging techniques allow for the detection and monitoring of diseases at an early stage. As imaging technologies continue to advance, patients can expect better and more comprehensive exams and more accurate diagnoses from their doctors.
