An X-Ray is an imaging technique that produces pictures of bones and soft tissues. X-Rays use a safe amount of radiation to create the scan images. These images help your doctor to diagnose a wide range of diseases and make suitable treatment plans accordingly. Usually, doctors use X-Rays to evaluate broken bones, dislocated joints, and other bone injuries. X rays are a safe and effective way to provide and evaluate your health status.
Why Does Someone Need an X-Ray?
People who have certain diseases and disorders are examined physically and by lab tests first, when physical examination is insufficient to diagnose the disease or condition, an additional diagnostic tool/tools are needed such as an X Ray, CT scan, CBCT Scan, etc.
An X-Ray may be ordered for your doctor to determine
- Check a broken bone or fracture
- Identify the cause of symptoms, such as pain and welling
- Look for structural problems in you bones, joints or soft tissues
- Look for foreign objects in your body
- Plan and evaluate treatment
- Provide routine screenings for cancer and other diseases
How Are X Rays Taken?
X ray may be performed on an patient to diagnose certain diseases and conditions, a general procedure that is followed during an x ray is mentioned below
- You will be asked to remove clothing or jewellery which might interfere with the exposure of the body area to be examined. If you are asked to remove your clothes you will be given a hospital gown to wear for the X-ray.
- You are then asked to lay or sit on the table depending on the purpose and area of which x ray is going to be taken.
- You are positioned on an X ray table such that the part of his body to be x Rayed comes between the x ray machine and a cassette containing the X ray film or specialised image plate.
- Body parts that are not to be X rayed are covered by a lead apron (shield) to avoid unnecessary exposure to the X rays.
- The X-ray beam will be aimed at the area to be imaged.
- You should lie very still and stable, in case of any movement the x ray image does not come clear.
- The technologist will step behind a protective widow and the image will be taken
- Depending on the body part under study, various x-ray may be taken at different angles, such as from the front, and side view during a chest x-ray.
Type of X-Rays
There are several types of x rays depending on which area is going to be examined, different x rays are taken at different angles of the body. Some X ras use contrast material as well known as dye to make the images appear more clear. Some of most common types of x ray include
- Abdominal x ray– this type of x ray shows your kidney, stomach, liver, bladder. It helps your doctor to diagnose various conditions related to your abdomen such as kidney stones, bladder stones. There are some special kinds of abdominal x easy such as a barium enema that uses special dyes ( called contrast) to evaluate parts of the digestive system.
- Bone X-Ray– Your doctor might use a bone x-ray to study and see broken bones(fractures), dislocated bones and joints, and arthritis. X ray images from bone can show signs of bone cancer or infection. A spine x-ray looks at the bones and tissues in the spine.
- Chest X-ray– This X Ray test can tells about the abnormalities in your heart, lungs and bones in the chest like pneumonia
- Dental X-Ray– Generally dental X Rays are taken to evaluate your oral health status and to evaluate your gums and teeth, look for infection and check for cavities
- Fluoroscopy– A fluoroscopy shows moving images of organs and soft tissues such as your intestine. Your provider views your organs in motion on a screen kind of like an x-ray movie. GI X-Ray exams often use fluoroscopy
- CT scan (Computed Tomography)– A radiology study that uses X-Rays and a computer to create cross-section images of bones, organs and tissues. This is a donut shaped machine that you slide through as it takes images.
- Mammogram– Your doctor uses mammograms to take X-Ray pictures of your breast tissue, evaluate breast lumps and diagnose breast cancer.
Conclusion
X Rays are a great diagnostic tool in diagnosing and treatment planning. There are many diagnostic centres for x-rays. Just by one click you can search for best diagnostic centre near you in the area that you live and can get access to various facilities.
