A Look Inside Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy

Millions of procedures are performed each year, but few know what it takes to do the job

News provided by

American Society of Radiologic Technologists

Nov 03, 2014, 10:41 ET

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An estimated 159 million x-ray procedures were performed in the United States in 2013. This important technology has been detecting broken bones, foreign objects in the body, compressed disks and more since the late 1800s. It's still the go-to exam doctors use to look inside the body.

Other medical imaging disciplines and specialties have followed, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine and ultrasound. Even radiation therapy, used to treat cancer, is a distant cousin of the x-ray. They've all been key factors in medicine's ability to improve patient care on a global scale.

A key chapter in the story of medical imaging and radiation therapy includes the experts who perform the procedures: radiologic technologists. More than 300,000 registered radiologic technologists work in the United States. Radiologic procedures and radiologic technologists go hand in hand, and the partnership serves millions of patients every year.

In honor of this year's National Radiologic Technology Week®, Nov. 2-8, and its "Many Views With One Vision" theme, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists is highlighting the unique marriage between medical imaging and radiation therapy technology and radiologic technologists.

ASRT's "X-ray Vision" infographic provides a snapshot of medical imaging and radiation therapy technology and radiologic technology professionals.

For more information about medical imaging and radiation therapy, visit www.asrt.org.

About ASRT
The ASRT represents more than 152,000 members who perform medical imaging procedures or plan and deliver radiation therapy. The Society is the largest radiologic science association in the world. Its mission is to elevate and advance the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to enhance the quality and safety of patient care.

Contact: Annemarie Ciepiela Henton, 505-298-4500, Ext. 1287, [email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141031/155912-INFO

SOURCE American Society of Radiologic Technologists