The study of radiology is a comparatively new field, with its roots in the turn of the last century. The use of X-rays, and later CAT scans and MRIs, have completely revolutionized medicine as we know it. In this article, we cover the history of radiology and offer the current state of the industry for those ready to start their careers in this innovative discipline.
In the Beginning: 1895-1924
The history of radiology can be traced to 1895-1896, when two physicians in two different countries made huge strides in the discipline. In 1895, Wilhelm Rontgen took the first medical X-ray, and in 1896, Antoine Becquerel discovered radioactivity. Both men received the Nobel Prize in Physics (in 1901 and 1903, respectively).By 1910, physicians everywhere had begun using radiology within their practices.
Just three years later, in 1913, William Coolidge invented the hot cathode ray tube. In 1914, Max von Laue received the Nobel Prize in Physics for X-ray diffraction from crystals. Other notable Nobel Prize in Physics winners during this time period were:
- William Lawrence Bragg and William Henry Bragg, a father and son team who won in 1915 for using crystal structures derived from X-rays;
- Charles Glover Barkla, who won in 1917 for his work in X-ray spectroscopy;
- Karl Manne Georg Siegbahm, who won in 1924 for his work in X-ray spectroscopy.
In 1918, George Eastman introduced radiographic film. Two years later, in 1920, Eddie C. Jerman and thirteen other technicians established the American Association of Radiological Technicians.
A Growing Future: 1929-1968
The field of radiology grew by leaps and bounds within the next several decades. The American Association of Radiological Technicians produced their first journal starting in 1929, called “The Radiological Technician.” In 1932, the Association changed its name to the American Society of X-Ray Technicians and could boast 400 members.
In 1936, Peter Debye received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for diffraction of X-rays and electrons in gases. In 1937, the University of California at Berkeley made the first clinical use of artificial radioactivity. Less than a decade later, in 1946, nuclear medicine was discovered. By the 1950s, the use of nuclear medicine became widespread. In 1956, ultrasound was first used in Poland. Further developments in the industry led to the use of emission reconstruction tomography (later known as SPECT and PET) in 1962, and the first use of MRI in 1967.
In 1968, the ASRT supported a bill that established the regulation of the licenser of radiological technicians.
To Infinity and Beyond: 1972-Present
In 1972, the CT was invented by British engineer Geoffrey Hounsfield. A year later in 1977, the MRI was officially used to image the human body. In 1979, Goeffrey Hounsfield and Allan MacLeod Cormack received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for computed taxial tomography – also known as CT. In 1981, the ASRT supported Congress in passing the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act; further regulations came in 1995, when the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) made continuing education a requirement for the process of renewing one’s annual license.
In 1984, the FDA entered the fray and made the use of MRI technology okay for commercial use.
So now that you have a basic overview of the history of radiology, the actual current state of the industry for those in the trenches follows below.
Your Career in Radiology
If you choose to follow radiology as your career, you may be wondering what the future holds for the industry and what salary you can expect. In 2008, there were 214,700 jobs in radiology in the US. By 2018, that number is expected to grow 17%, which is faster than the national average. 61% of the jobs listed in 2008 were in hospitals, but there are also positions in outpatient care centers, physicians’ offices, laboratories, and diagnostic imaging centers.
The middle 50% of those employed commanded a salary between $42,710 and $63,010. The low end of the salary scale averaged $35,100 and the high end of the scale averaged $74,970. Within the industry, salaries are highest in labs, averaging $55,210. From there, the salaries decrease incrementally at hospitals, outpatient care centers, and finally physicians’ offices.
If you are interested in a career in radiology, you might read more about people like Dr. Sven Seldinger, Dr. Eugene Saenger, and Dr. Takashi Nagai – all of whom made great strides within the field.