What is Neuroradiology?

What is neuroradiology?

• Neuroradiology is a subspecialty of radiology, one of the medical disciplines.
• Neuroradiology plays an essential role in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders.

What is a neuroradiologist? What does a neuroradiologist do?

• Neuroradiologists are highly trained physicians who are critical members of the diagnostic and treatment team assisting patients with neurological disorders.
• Each day, these subspecialty physicians are consulted many times by neurologists, internists, neurosurgeons, radiation therapists, and other professionals who seek guidance in the interpretation of neuroimaging studies.
• The neuroradiologist affects patient care on a daily basis. In addition, as a member of the treatment team, neuroradiologists are critical in ensuring that a precise diagnosis is established.
• Neuroradiologists prescribe the correct tests to assess the neurological symptoms of the patient. A precise diagnosis enables the best outcome.
• They order and interpret X-rays, magnetic resonance images (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain, spine and spinal cord, face and neck, and peripheral nerves.
• They also perform angiographic studies of the brain and spine and interpret the findings.
• The examinations described above, allow neuroradiologists to diagnose stroke, tumor, genetic conditions, aneurysms, Alzheimer's disease, and many other causes of neurological dysfunction at an early stage.
• Early diagnosis allows the treating physician—a neurologist, a neurosurgeon, a neuroradiologist, or a generalist—to accurately counsel the patient and start the best therapy at the earliest possible time.
• Minimally invasive treatments for many neurological disorders, such as brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and compression fractures of the spine are mainly performed by neuroradiologists.

Training for a radiologist

• 4 years of university-level education
• 4 years of medical school
• 1 year of internship
• 4 years of residency training in radiology
• American Board of Radiology examinations: written and oral portions
• Fellowship training if desired

Training for a neuroradiologist

• Prerequisite: Board certification in Radiology
• Training
  • 1-2 years of neuroradiology fellowship training after a radiology residency
  • Optional training in interventional neuroradiology (...the treatment of lesions by using catheters and needles) or pediatric neuroradiology
  • Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ), which requires the physician to pass an examination in general neuroradiology, pediatric neuroradiology, spine radiology, and head and neck imaging under the auspices of the American Board of Radiology

Diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in neuroradiology

• Diagnostic MRI methods
• MRI
• MR spectroscopy (MRS)
• Functional MRI (fMRI)
• MR angiography (MRA)
• Perfusion and diffusion techniques
• Contrast-enhanced techniques
• CT methods
• CT angiography (CTA)
• Perfusion techniques
• Contrast-enhanced techniques
• Catheter angiography
• Embolization
• Coil placement
• Stent placement

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