General X-Ray

What is a general X-Ray (General Radiology)?

An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Imaging with x-rays involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging.

What are some common indications for an X-Ray?

A chest x-ray is typically the first imaging test used to help diagnose symptoms such as: shortness of breath, a bad or persistent cough, chest pain or injury, fever, pneumonia, heart failure and other heart problems, and emphysema.

Other uses of general x-ray include bone x-rays, used to diagnose broken bones or joint dislocation, demonstrate proper alignment and stabilization of bony fragments following treatment of a fracture, look for injury, infection, arthritis, abnormal bone growths, bony changes seen in metabolic conditions.

How should I prepare for an X-Ray?

A chest x-ray requires no special preparation. You may be asked to remove some or all of your clothes and to wear a gown during the exam. You may also be asked to remove jewelry, dentures, eye glasses and any metal objects or clothing that might interfere with the x-ray images.

Women should always inform their physician and x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Many imaging tests are not performed during pregnancy so as not to expose the fetus to radiation.

What does the equipment look like?

Our x-ray equipment consists of a x-ray tube suspended over a table on which the patient lies. A drawer under the table holds the digital recording plate. Our x-ray unit is a state-of-the-art digital x-ray unit, not requiring any films, plates or chemical processing. All is handled digitally in our computer systems.

How is the procedure performed?

For chest x-rays, typically two views of the chest are taken, one from the back and the other from the side of the body as the patient stands against the image recording plate. The technologist, an individual specially trained to perform radiology examinations, will position the patient with hands on hips and chest pressed against the image plate. For the second view, the patient's side is against the image plate with arms elevated.

Patients who cannot stand may be positioned lying down on a table for chest x-rays.

You must hold very still and may be asked to keep from breathing for a few seconds while the x-ray picture is taken to reduce the possibility of a blurred image. The technologist will walk behind a wall or into the next room to activate the x-ray machine.

When the examination is complete, you will be asked to wait until the radiologist determines that all the necessary images have been obtained.

The chest x-ray examination is usually completed within 15 minutes.

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