Radiology

Our radiology teams work across our UAE hospitals, offering imaging tests and scans for many parts of the body. A radiologist reviews each scan and interprets what it shows.

What is radiology?

Radiology is the medical speciality that uses imaging to help diagnose illness and injury, monitor conditions and, in some cases, guide treatment. It covers a range of scans, such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI and mammography, each suited to different parts of the body. A radiologist, a specialist doctor, reviews and interprets these images. Some radiologists, called interventional radiologists, also treat problems through tiny cuts, using imaging to steer. Nuclear medicine, a separate speciality, shows how organs are working rather than how they look.

A radiologist is a specialist doctor who interprets these images and provides a report to the doctor looking after you. Some radiologists specialise in interventional radiology, using imaging guidance to perform minimally invasive procedures through a small incision or needle. These procedures can be used to diagnose or treat certain conditions without the need for traditional open surgery.

Nuclear medicine is a separate medical speciality. It uses small amounts of radioactive tracers to provide information about how organs and tissues are functioning, rather than simply showing their structure.

When you might need imaging

Imaging usually starts when your doctor needs more information to diagnose a condition, investigate symptoms or monitor your health. Your doctor will choose the examination that is most appropriate for your individual situation.

You may be referred for imaging to:

• Find the cause of symptoms such as pain, swelling or a lump
• Check for a fracture or other injury following an accident
• Investigate an abnormality found during another examination or test
• Diagnose or monitor a medical condition
• Assess how well a treatment is working or whether a condition has changed
• Guide a procedure, such as a biopsy or minimally invasive treatment

Some scans are also used for screening or to keep an eye on a known risk, such as a mammogram to check the breasts or a bone density scan for bone strength. When you arrive, bring your referral, a list of your medicines and any earlier scans, since comparing them helps the radiologist see what has changed. Some tests need preparation, such as not eating for a few hours or drinking a contrast liquid, and the team will tell you what to do beforehand.

What to expect

What's involved in a scan depends on the test. Many, like an X-ray or ultrasound, are quick and need little preparation. For others you'll change into a gown or be given a contrast dye, as a drink or a small injection, that makes certain tissues show up more clearly. A radiographer, the health professional who runs the scanner, positions you and takes the images while you hold still.

The scans range from plain X-ray and ultrasound to CT, MRI and more detailed studies, so a visit can take anywhere from minutes to about an hour. Most are done as an outpatient appointment, so you can usually go home the same day. Afterwards a radiologist reviews your images and sends a report to the doctor who referred you. That doctor talks the results through with you and explains what happens next.

Radiology at Mediclinic

Mediclinic provides a comprehensive range of radiology and imaging services across our hospitals and clinics in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Our services include routine and advanced imaging such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, mammography and bone density scanning, alongside specialised areas including breast imaging, cardiac imaging and neuroradiology. Our radiology teams work closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals across Mediclinic to ensure that imaging results support timely diagnosis, treatment and ongoing patient care.