Once a Radiographer, Always a Radiographer - Radiography is an Art

by SGT University Best University in Gurgaon

Radiography is not a technique it is an art! The radiographer's job is to capture X-Ray/CT/MR images of the human body and the best radiographer’s responsibility is to give the best image quality to his/her radiologist. Radiographer needs to become the best in his technique, and this can happen only if he/she truly adopts his field, after which they will start growing in their career simply adopting best practice is the key to be outgunned in any field. Without adopting the field, it is just like doing a to-do-job and it is worthless, and in this kind of practice, they may harm their patient and will disappoint their radiologist.

Just after the discovery, numerous experiments with X-Ray were started all over the world, the experiments were not only for medical or healthcare field benefits as its origin but apart from the medical sciences field also like in painting, archeology, anthropology, industry, etc.

Radiography is an art that came into the notice when Hall-Edwards first published his Floral radiography (Figure 1 & 2) images just 17 years after the discovery of X-Rays by Sir W.C Roentgen in 1895.

Non-radiographer will never be able to found out these beautiful images were created by using X-Rays but for a radiographer, it is just simplest to create the best images in mammography (X-Ray of Breast). Not only this many enthusiastic or curious people did capture pictures/images from X-Rays of various small to big objects like metal boxes, guns, bicycles, etc., not only this also for very large objects like boring 777 (figure-3).

Many enthusiastic or curious people did capture pictures/images from X-Rays of various small to big objects like metal boxes, guns, bicycles, etc., as well as very large objects like the aircraft Boeing 777 (figure-3).

As we know soon after the discovery of the X-Ray, X-Rays were widely started used in Medical health, forensic sciences, and cancer therapy, etc. In the 60s, the use of cadavers was very common to learn radiography techniques, but nowadays after some observation radiography, students can easily perform X-ray procedures. Radiographer must always keep in mind that, what best he/she can learn from observing and how the best images can be acquired without increasing the radiation dose or within/less radiation dose. This can happen only if the radiographer keeps him/herself open for learning and educate him/herself on a daily basis.

Imaging from crooks/gas tubes to advance Metal/Straton X-Ray tubes and from the development of radiographic film into the chemicals to direct radiographs on the computer screens, the techniques get so advanced and innovative. As well as lots of good researches and studies had been published in radiography. All these things give benefits to patients and radiologists, but this also increases the burden and challenges on radiographers to improve themselves on daily basis.

In India, Physicians or consultants prefer to give medication or treatment on the basis of diagnostic imaging procedures in the first phase and the challenge for the Indian radiographer is to give them good quality images for accurate diagnosis, with the help of advanced technologies. The biggest challenge for a radiographer is handling a patient with care in the department without any single mistake. Because any mistake may lead to harm to the patient information or increase radiation dose.

A radiographer must always work with complete dedication, keeping in mind that his education, training, ethics, and moral responsibility are for patient benefits and good for mankind. The key to becoming a radiographer cum artist is thought of learning and educating him/herself with new and best techniques, only then he/she will happily say that “Once a Radiographer is Always a Radiographer” and no one can replace them.

Acknowledgment- Thanks to Dr. Rohit Shrma, Dr. BB Sharma & Dr. V.K. Govila

References-

1. Merrill C. Raikes (2003). Floral Radiography: Using X rays to Create Fine Art, RSNA Education Exhibit, Vol. 23, No. 5.

2. Paul Klee, on Art (Rajchman, 2000, p. 124).

3. Conklin, W. (1994). Inner Dimensions: The Radiographic World of William Conklin. Wrs Pub.

4. Kanal, K. (2007). Screen-Film Radiography. Retrieved from http://courses.washington.edu/radxphys/Lectures07-08/ScreenFilm_Radiography-070823.pdf.

5. Koetsier, A. (n.d.) Beyond Light: The Art of X-rayography. Retrieved from http://www.beyondlight.com/whatis.html

Nitish Virmani

Pursuing Ph.D

Lecturer

Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

Radio-Imaging & Diagnosis