LAHORE: As every year, this year too, the World Radiography Day is being celebrated on (November 8) to mark the anniversary of the discovery of x-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895.
Keeping in view the importance of the day in the healthcare sector, Dr Amjad Iqbal, consultant radiologist at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC), stated radiology was the backbone of any hospital, which involved preparation and production of medical imaging to assist clinical radiologists and medics to diagnose, monitor, or treat a disease. He said radiology had advanced significantly in the past ten years with the availability of ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI scans, PET and SPECT scans.
Emphasising the pivotal role radiography plays in a healthcare setting, especially in a cancer hospital, Dr Iqbal shared how radiology helps in diagnosis as well as in evaluation of effectiveness of a treatment.
He highlighted the radiographers’ crucial role by generating base-line scans and serial follow-up scans for cancer patients undergoing treatment. “Radiology not just represents a range of diagnostic tools that are non-invasive but it also encompasses therapeutic interventional radiology. This type of radiology enables minimally invasive surgeries, reducing the risk of post-operative complications,” he explained.
Dr Iqbal shared that the standard of radiology being practiced at SKMCH was at par with high standards practiced in hospitals around the world. In his message for the public, Dr Iqbal said, “We are fortunate to be living in this age where we can enjoy the benefits of scientific knowledge. This knowledge is based on scientific research and facts and it is of crucial importance that the public disregards myths where disease diagnosis and treatment are concerned.”
