Radiology is the study of disease through imaging. Diagnostic radiology is a medical specialty which evolved shortly Radiology is the study of disease through imaging. Diagnostic radiology is a medical specialty that evolved shortly after the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895.

The early radiologists were trained in the use of x-rays for both diagnosis and treatment of disease. The last 30 years have witnessed the development of nuclear medicine including ultrasound, CT scanning, and MRI.

These newer imaging methods permit physicians to visualize regions of the body previously accessible only through exploratory surgery. They have given birth to a new subspecialty known as interventional radiology, which is image-guided percutaneous biopsy and intervention. The use of imaging helps physicians to better understand medical conditions prior to treatment.