X-Rays

Doctors use X-rays to take pictures of the inside of the body. An X-ray examination uses electromagnetic radiation to make images of your internal organs including bones and teeth.

An X-ray examination is a painless medical test that can help your doctor in diagnosis and treatment especially in emergencies. It is a fast, easy and safe way for your doctor to view and assess conditions ranging from broken bones to pneumonia to cancer.

Many different types of X-rays, such as bone or chest X-rays, exist. The type your doctor uses depends on what part of your body is being examined and for what purpose.

An X-ray machine produces an X-ray beam using a tube that is carefully focused on the body part being examined. The machine produces a tiny burst of radiation, at a safe level, that passes through your body and records an image on film or on a specialized plate.

X-ray exams work since different tissues absorb different amounts of the radiation. As they pass thorough your body, X-rays create varying levels of radiation exposure on the X-ray film.

Since your bones are dense and absorb radiation well, they appear light on the film. Soft tissues, such as your skin, fat, muscles and organs, allow more radiation to pass through them, which makes them appear in varying shades of gray. Structures containing air, such as your lungs, appear dark.

An X-ray examination is fast and painless the only discomfort coming from the hardness of the X-ray table or inserting dental X-ray equipment.

When do you need X-rays?

Your doctor may recommend an X-ray for many different reasons. For example, an X-ray exam may:

• Determine whether a bone is chipped, dislocated or broken,
• Evaluate joint injuries and bone infections,
• Diagnose and monitor the progression of degenerative conditions, such as arthritis and osteoporosis,
• Screen for heart and lung diseases,
• Find and treat artery blockages,
• Diagnose the cause of persistent coughing or chest pain,
• Detect scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, and other spinal defects, and
• Locate dental problems such as cavities, abscessed teeth, and other tooth and jaw abnormalities

X-ray exams can be used for nearly all medical situations. They also play an important role in the detection and diagnosis of cancer.

What are the Risks in X-rays?

Most patients are worried about the levels of radiation used during X-ray examinations. For most, the benefits of doing an X-ray examination far outweigh the risk. Medical practitioners also tend to use the lowest level of radiation exposure to reduce this risk.

If you are pregnant however, you should always inform your doctor. Though the risk of the unborn child being affected by the radiation is low, your doctor may suggest alternative treatment such as ultrasound to get the same results.

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