Today is World Radiography Day. November 8, 2012, marks the 117th year since x-rays were discovered. On November 8, 1895, Professor Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen of the University of Wurzburg in Germany first observed X-rays quite by accident when experimenting with vacuum tubes. He discovered that these rays could pass through paper, wood and human skin. He produced an image of his wife's hand which clearly revealed her wedding ring and her bones on a photographic plate. He called them "X-RAYS" and the name has stuck till today. Despite his objections, many of his colleagues suggested calling them Roentgen rays. They are still occasionally referred to as Roentgen rays in German-speaking countries.

This discovery signaled the beginning of imaging in Medicine and the evolution of Radiology. By January 1896, X-rays were used to set the broken arm of a young boy in Dartmouth, New Hampshire. In 1896, Genzo Shimadzu Jr. succeeded in taking radiographs under the guidance of Prof. Muraoka of Kyoto Higher School.

Since its discovery about a century ago, Radiographs, variously referred to as ‘The Eye of Medicine’, ‘The Fastest Diagnostic Tool’ and ‘The window to total Healthcare’, have brought tremendous progress to health care. Science has moved from Conventional/Plain Radiography, Fluoroscopy through Computed Radiography to Computerized Tomography(CT), Digital Radiography, Interventional Radiology/ Image guided Surgery, Spiral Whole body C.T, Conformal Therapy, Therapeutic Radiography (Treatment of cancer), Radio Isotope, and more.

Roentgen, who won the first Nobel Prize in physics in 1901, declined to seek patents or proprietary claims on his discovery and its applications. He did not profit financially from his discovery and died in poverty during the World War 1 inflation at the age of 73 years. We hereby honor Roentgen for these achievements.

Practical points to note:

• Imaging (often using x-rays) is an essential diagnostic tool.
• Physicians are aware of radiation risks, and will only request imaging investigations if they are considered beneficial.
• If you are seeing multiple Physicians, let them know your history with regard to exposure to radiation.
• Excess radiation may be harmful, so do not undertake imaging investigations unless it is advised by a Physician.