[en] Along with the improvement of traditional X-ray method and development of a series of new methods of diagnostics in a number of countries for the last years possibilities are studied of using heavy (heavier than electron) charged particles of relatively high energies for diagnostic purposes, in the first place, for the early diagnostics of tumour diseases. The use of heavy charged particles has a number of advantages as compared with X-ray diffraction. Physical laws of ion-substance interaction ensure higher radiographic image contrast compared to X-ray diffraction at lower radiation doses, the prospects of obtaining new independent diagnostic information are opening. A short review of the development of the problem is given, some basic physical problems are considered, results of using radiographic method are presented, advantages in comparison with X-ray diffraction and potential possibilities are discussed. In world practice the proton-ion radiography method has been used in experiments on animals, human body tissues; first radiographic investigations on patients are under way