see also medical imaging or diagnostic imaging

Radiology is the medical specialty directing Medical Imaging technologies to diagnose and sometimes treat diseases. Traditionally it was the branch of medical science dealing with the medical use of X-rays emitted by X-ray machines or other such radiation devices for the purpose of obtaining visual information as part of medical imaging. Radiologists now also direct other imaging technologies (such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging) to diagnose or treat disease. Interventional radiology is the performance of (usually minimally invasive) medical procedures with the help of radiography (the routine, technical aspects of Medical Imaging are known as Radiography and are carried out by the Radiographer or Radiologic Technologist).

Outside of the medical field, radiology also encompasses the examination of the inner structure of objects using X-rays or other penetrating radiation.