Rads
Medical abbreviation · Medical Specialty
| Stands for | Radiology |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
Rads stands for Radiology, a medical specialty abbreviation.
Hospital and student shorthand for radiology, the specialty that diagnoses disease with X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound and nuclear medicine imaging and performs image-guided procedures. Diagnostic radiology residency in the US lasts five years including an internship year.
Example: Called rads to protocol the CT and review the outside images.
Usage notes
Radiologists are certified by the American Board of Radiology and often subspecialize in neuroradiology, body imaging, musculoskeletal, breast, pediatric or interventional radiology. In radiation physics "rad" is an older unit of absorbed dose, so context separates the two. Radiologic technologists, who perform the scans, are distinct from radiologists, who interpret them.
Related abbreviations
More medical specialty abbreviations
- A&I – Allergy and immunology
- ABMS – American Board of Medical Specialties
- ACGME – Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
- Anes – Anesthesiology
- Cards – Cardiology
- CCM – Critical care medicine
- CT – Cardiothoracic (surgery)
- Derm – Dermatology
- ECFMG – Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
- EM – Emergency medicine
- Endo – Endocrinology
- ENT – Ear, nose and throat (otolaryngology)
See all 47 medical specialty abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.