Comparing Radiologists to Nuclear Medicine Physicians
Radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians are both medical doctors and may both use radioactive materials to help diagnose or treat patients. Nuclear medicine physicians earn a higher salary than radiologists and typically have more training than radiologists have.
| Job Title | Educational Requirements | Median Salary (2021) | Job Outlook (2020-2030)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radiologists | Medical degree | $259,843** | 5% (physicians and surgeons, all other) |
| Nuclear Medicine Physicians | Medical degree | $346,851*** | 5% (physicians and surgeons, all other) |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; **Glassdoor; ***Salary.com
Responsibilities of Radiologists vs. Nuclear Medicine Physicians
Radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians both perform a lot of similar general duties, such as instructing technicians so that they can get the appropriate data that's needed to diagnose patients. They evaluate test results and they also consult with the doctors who referred patients concerning their findings. The key difference relates to how the technology they use works. Radiologists use X-rays and other types of images to get a visual image of what's happening inside a patient. Nuclear medicine physicians use materials that are processed in the body and can show them things like how effectively organs are working. Since they use different medical procedures and different equipment to assess different data they may diagnose different medical conditions.
Radiologists
In order to understand what's happening inside a person's body, radiologists use a range of techniques to produce images. Since they are medical doctors they use these images to diagnose patients. Once they've completed medical school they are required to complete a residency program that's typically four years in length. It's also common for radiologists to complete a fellowship program. Some of the equipment they're specifically trained to use includes X-ray machines, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. They direct technicians to use the equipment on patients so that they can get the appropriate data needed to develop a diagnosis or treatment.
Job responsibilities of a radiologist include:
- Reviewing patient records
- Assessing images obtained
- Determining if additional images are needed
- Producing reports concerning test results
- Discussing results with patients or other medical professionals
Nuclear Medicine Physicians
Nuclear medicine physicians use a range of procedures involving radioactive materials to diagnose or treat patients. Examples of conditions that they may treat include thyroid cancer and tumors. Once they've completed medical school they must complete a residency program in nuclear medicine. This involves at least three years of training. They also need to acquire clinical experience.
Job responsibilities of a nuclear medicine physician include:
- Overseeing technicians who perform tests on patients
- Evaluating test data
- Prescribing treatment for patients
- Determining how much material to inject patients with
- Maintaining safety guidelines
- Consulting with other medical professionals
Related Careers
There are a number of medical professions that may appeal to those considering a future as a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician. The links listed below connect to information about medical laboratory scientists and anesthesiologists, which are just two of a number of alternate occupations aspiring radiologists or nuclear medicine physicians may be interested in.
