Radiography has been an important field of medical work. This science of detection, since its discovery, has made medical diagnoses much easier and accurate. Radiography is a broad term that encompasses medical procedures like X-Ray, CT scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Fluoroscopy, Ultrasound and other technologies. All these tests, though differing a lot from each other, have the common motive of providing a complete picture of the inside of the human body. There is a great demand for trained radiographers, and the untrained people are never taken into work for this position, because a test gone wrong might cause the wrong diagnoses to be made, and may consequently, cause the patient his/her life.
Radiography can be broadly classified into two types: Diagnostic and Therapeutic. Diagnostic Radiography is the one which involves the detection part of radiography. Here, by means of various tests enlisted above, the patient’s body is examined. Here, use of both non-ionizing and ionizing radiation is made. The other form of radiation is the Therapeutic Radiation. Here, radiation is used to treat the human body of certain ailments like cancers and ulcers. This is a more aggressive form of Radiography. Then there is Dental Radiography, which teaches how to view teeth for the purpose of diagnoses.
The course on radiography is a one year certificate course, and also a two year diploma course. Many institutions also provide B.Sc courses in Radiography. B.Sc Radiography (Hons) is an internationally acclaimed degree, and is accepted world-wide. In India, the premier institutions for radiography include All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bangalore, and hoards of other institutions. There is a large scope for research in this field, and a lot of research opportunities are available in the Gulf countries and the Western European countries.
Career prospects in this field are emerging, because every medical establishment, be it a major hospital or a small clinic, needs radiography to diagnose the patients. And due to the finesse this job needs, professionals with the required expertise are recruited only. It is definitely, one of the good choices for your career.
