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A radiologist is not only an expert in the field of imaging techniques, but also an expert in understanding the patterns and appearance of cancer in various body parts and organs as well as ways of local and distant spread of different tumours, so-called metastases.
When it comes to cancer, patient care is a team effort and not the work of a single doctor. A multidisciplinary approach and good teamwork between the various physicians are crucial to the successful care of cancer patients from detection to treatment and follow-up. The role of the radiologist is not limited to the phase between detection and diagnosis but extends further, as radiology will also be involved in the choice of therapy, its monitoring, delivery, and follow-up. In hospitals especially, a multidisciplinary approach to the fight against cancer is very common and radiologists frequently work in a team together with other specialists. “A lot of communication takes place with the clinical oncologists and surgeons, usually in the context of regular multidisciplinary committee meetings. However, it is good practice to communicate with colleagues who have referred patients for examinations and, obviously, are in charge of the patient. This communication can be by telephone, e-mail or videoconference.” Characterisation of equivocal ultrasound findings (not shown) with CT. CT of the kidney shows a cystic structure in the left kidney (white arrow). However, this is not a simple cyst. CT demonstrates a solid nodule (green arrow), which is suspicious for a cystic cancer. When the final diagnosis is reached and clarified, the next step is to inform the patient of their condition and the further steps and treatment options available. At this stage, the role and the involvement of the radiologist vary and are strongly dependent upon the local situation. In most cases it is referring physicians who will inform the patient about the results, as they are generally the people who have the most detailed knowledge of the patient’s medical history. There are also cases, where the final diagnosis can only be reached by performing a pathological test, which excludes the participation of a radiologist. But the conventional background role of the radiologist is changing slightly as the multidisciplinary approach and patients’ demands make the radiologist more and more involved. When working in multidisciplinary teams, the attending physician often requests that the radiologist be present when the patient is informed of a finding, so that specific questions regarding imaging can be answered by a specialist.
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