Musculoskeletal radiology is the application of medical imaging using radiation to the study of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system. It has a number of uses, ranging from a better understanding of human anatomy to the development of diagnostic criteria for evaluating patients with musculoskeletal diseases. Medical schools typically teach a unit on musculoskeletal radiology and students interested in pursuing careers in this field can take additional coursework to learn more and develop additional skills.
One important aspect of this field is the development of a very large library of images of the musculoskeletal system. Images taken of patients of all ages and physical conditions are used to amass a collection of images people can use in medical training and scientific research. Having comparison images available allows people to do things like assessing suspected cases of a disorder against images of patients known to have the disorder, and such images can also be used to develop clear descriptions for rubrics used in evaluating medical imaging studies.
Musculoskeletal pathology, involving the study of disease in the skeleton and muscles, is heavily reliant on musculoskeletal radiology. Imaging studies can be used in diagnosis and treatment of patients, as well as the ongoing study of disease. Some pathologists are also interested in normal variations across different human populations, using image libraries to look at differences in skeletal structure on the basis of geographic location, racial origins, and other factors, like age.
In a clinical settings, musculoskeletal radiology is a very commonly used diagnostic tool. A doctor with concerns about fractures, muscular disorders, and other conditions may use an imaging study as the first line of diagnosis, to explore the interior of the patient's body without having to open the patient up in surgery. X-rays, MRIs with contrast, CT scans, and a variety of other tools can be used to collect information about a patient's musculoskeletal system. All of these techniques are minimally invasive, with low risks to the patient.
Experts in musculoskeletal radiology can be involved in the management of disease, as well as diagnosis. Conditions where radiation is used therapeutically require input from a medical practitioner familiar with therapeutic radiation therapy, and certain procedures call for the services of a radiologist to guide and monitor care providers while they perform the procedure. People in this field can have varying degrees of patient contact, ranging from assisting with procedures to primarily focusing on interpreting imaging studies without interacting directly with the patients.
