neuroradiologist
Meaning of neuroradiologist: Neuroradiologists interpret imaging of the brain, spine, and nervous system and often perform minimally invasive procedures guided by those same images.
Definition of neuroradiologist
A neuroradiologist is a physician who has completed additional specialized training beyond general radiology, focusing on interpreting imaging studies of the brain, spinal cord, spine, and nerves. These images are produced using methods such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and a neuroradiologist analyzes them to identify abnormalities such as tumors, strokes, bleeding, or structural malformations.
Beyond interpreting images, many neuroradiologists perform image guided procedures, using imaging in real time to direct a needle, catheter, or other instrument to a precise location within the nervous system, such as obtaining a tissue sample or treating a blood vessel abnormality without open surgery.
Because conditions affecting the nervous system can be subtle or resemble one another on imaging, a neuroradiologist works closely with neurologists and neurosurgeons, providing image based findings that inform diagnosis and guide decisions about further treatment.
How neuroradiologist is built
- neur/o Combining form · Greek nerve, nervous system
- radi/o Combining form · Latin x-ray, radiation
- -logist Suffix · Greek specialist in a field of study
A medical term is read from its ending backwards: the suffix first, then the prefix, then the root. See all 223 word parts.
Used in a sentence
The neuroradiologist reviewed the brain MRI and identified a small area of abnormal signal.
Good to know
A neuroradiologist differs from a neurologist in that the neuroradiologist specializes in interpreting nervous system imaging rather than directly examining and managing a patient's neurological symptoms.
Word origin
Where “neuroradiologist” comes from
Formed from Greek neuron, meaning nerve, combined with radiology, itself from Latin radius, meaning ray, and Greek logos, meaning study.