Radiology and Organ Imaging
Summary
Radiology encompasses a suite of non‐invasive modalities for visualising internal organ structure and function, ranging from X‐ray-based methods to ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and emerging microwave and molecular imaging techniques. Conventional radiography and CT exploit differential X-ray attenuation to depict bone, lung and soft-tissue anatomy, while MRI leverages proton density and relaxation differences to portray organ microstructure without ionising radiation. Ultrasonography provides real-time assessment of parenchymal and vascular characteristics in organs such as the testes, liver and thyroid, with Doppler modes quantifying blood flow and resistive indices. Microwave imaging is under active research for breast cancer screening, using dielectric contrasts to detect tumours safely and cost-effectively. Across these modalities, advanced computational tools—texture analysis, radiomics and machine-learning algorithms—offer quantitative phenotyping of lesions, improving diagnostic accuracy and enabling personalised treatment planning. As imaging systems become more portable and integrated with AI, they hold particular promise for expanding access to high-value diagnostics and longitudinal monitoring in diverse clinical settings.
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Radiology and Organ Imaging publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in radiology and organ imaging across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Computed tomography (CT): An X-ray-based modality that reconstructs cross-sectional images of internal structures by measuring differential X-ray attenuation through tissues.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A non-ionising technique using magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to generate detailed images based on tissue proton density and relaxation properties.
Scrotal ultrasonography: High-frequency sound-wave imaging of the testes, epididymis and spermatic cord, providing real-time assessment of structure and vascular perfusion.
Microwave tomography: An imaging approach reconstructing spatial maps of tissue permittivity and conductivity by solving an inverse scattering problem with ultra-wideband signals.
Radar-based imaging: A method localising strong dielectric scatterers—such as tumours—by analysing reflected microwave pulses, often using time-of-flight or confocal beamforming.
References
- The role of the radiologist in the evaluation of male infertility: recommendations of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology-Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (ESUR-SPIWG) for scrotal imaging. European Radiology (2024).
- Diagnostic accuracy of resistive index of capsular and intratesticular branches of testicular arteries in infertile men with oligoasthenospermia: A case-control study. BioMedicine (2020).
- Recent Advances in Microwave Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection. International Journal of Biomedical Imaging (2016).
- Metamaterial-Inspired Antenna Array for Application in Microwave Breast Imaging Systems for Tumor Detection. IEEE Access (2020).
- Review of Microwaves Techniques for Breast Cancer Detection. Sensors (2020).
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