Life of a Radiologist: The View from the Reporting Room

Dr. Nirmal Prasad Neupane
Radiologist
Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTRO: Within the intricate fabric of life, there exist certain professions that infuse it with joy, excitement, and fulfillment, and in my view, radiology is undoubtedly one of them. Highly considered a glamorous profession, it makes pushing papers from nine to five seem like a thrilling adventure. Radiology is a branch of medical science that involves the use of imaging technology to diagnose and treat diseases. A radiologist, a medical doctor specializing in this field, plays a crucial role in patient care by interpreting and analyzing various imaging scans. Their work is essential in providing accurate diagnoses and guiding treatment decisions. Welcome to the life of a radiologist, where we spend our days in a dimly lit room, squinting at blurry images, and developing back problems from sitting all day. Strap yourself in, folks, because this ride is about to get as wild as a dental x-ray.

THE SERIOUS PART: Becoming a radiologist requires a long and arduous academic journey. After completing a five-year undergraduate program, aspiring radiologists must endure three years of post-graduate program as additional medical school (provided, they have ranked in the top in the entrance exams lately). To further specialize, they have to pursue additional fellowship training in subspecialties like interventional radiology, neuroradiology, cardiothoracic, or musculoskeletal radiology. Radiologists spend a significant portion of their time in dark rooms, reviewing and interpreting medical images. This solitary environment allows them to focus on intricate details while minimizing distractions. However, it can also be mentally taxing, as they handle a heavy workload and bear the weight of diagnostic responsibility. Radiologists must carefully manage their time to ensure effective and efficient interpretation of scans, meeting the clinicians’ needs and ensuring timely patient care. This all, to your surprise, I would say is the good part. 

THE CHARM: Much less people know and care that we are doctors. When you enter your workplace in the morning, if anybody greets you with “Good morning, doctor!” then you first look around to make sure there is no confusion about you being a doctor. The thrill of spending hours on end in a dimly lit room is nothing less than an adventure. There’s nothing quite like squinting at black and white images for hours, trying to decipher what exactly is normal or pathological or just a really tricky shadow. And then, the elephant in the room—the radiation. Protected by the lead barriers and the brick walls both the radiation and the radiologists work side by side. But it’s all worth it for the occasional opportunity to wear a lead apron and pretend to be a cool secret agent for a few minutes. We’ve also mastered the art of looking busy while actually doing nothing productive. The more cryptic the radiology report, the better. We throw around terms like “there is this soft tissue attenuation” or “focal lucency” with such ease that it’s like we’re speaking in our own secret language. We like to keep the referring doctors on their toes, scratching their heads, and desperately consulting medical textbooks. Ah, the joys of keeping the medical world on its toes. But wait, there’s more! We can’t forget about the never-ending joy of writing radiology reports. It’s like composing a haiku, except instead of seventeen syllables, we have to condense an entire patient’s medical history, examination, and images into a concise paragraph. We work our literary magic to create reports that are both informative and utterly confusing to non-radiologists. Who knows better than us to use phrases like “findings are in favour of”, “consistent with”, and “suggestive of” each with a different depth of conviction. And then, a list of the differentials, of course.

TILL WE MEET AGAIN: However, despite these comical aspects, radiologists truly are the unsung heroes of our society. They save lives, provide comfort, and work tirelessly to keep us healthy. Their dedication and compassion, for sure, deserve some respect and gratitude. Sure, they may have the personality of a sleeping sloth and the bedside manner of a grumpy cat, but when it comes to their profession, they are unmatched in their expertise.

So, there you have it, folks—the exhilarating life of a radiologist. From the glamorous fashion choices to sitting in a dim room, squinting at shadows, and preparing the reports, it’s truly a thrill ride like no other. So, the next time you’re sitting on your beach towel, sipping a cocktail, consider raising your glass to the brave souls in the dimly lit room, bringing joy to the world, one blurry image at a time. Cheers to the unsung heroes of the medical field!