The x ray technologist positions the patient appropriately, so that the part of the body to be x rayed will be between the x-ray beam and the film plate. Usually the individual either lies on an adjustable table or stands. Parts of the body that are especially sensitive to damage by x rays for example, the reproductive organs, the thyroid are shielded with a lead apron.
Lead is very dense and effectively protects the body by stopping all x rays. It is essential to remain motionless during the x ray, since movement causes the resulting picture to be blurry. Sometimes patients are asked to hold their breath briefly during the procedure. Children who are not old enough follow directions or who cannot stay still may need to be restrained or given medication to sedate them in order to keep them still enough to obtain useful results.
Sometimes parents can stay with children during an x ray, unless the mother is pregnant, in which case she must protect the fetus from x-ray exposure. If a contrast material is to be used, the individual will be given special instructions to prepare for the procedure and may be asked to remain afterwards until recovery is complete.
See Preparation and Aftercare below. Although unnecessary exposure to radiation should be avoided, the low levels of radiation one is exposed to during an x ray does not cause harm with a few exceptions.
Pregnant women should not have x rays unless in emergencies the benefits highly outweigh the risks. Exposure of the fetus to x rays, especially during early pregnancy can increase the risk of the child later developing leukemia. Body parts not being x rayed should be shielded with a lead apron, especially the testes, ovaries, and thyroid. No special preparation is needed for fixed plate x rays unless contrast material is used.
When x rays are scheduled that involve the use of contrast material, the physician will give specific instructions for preparation. For example, in a lower GI series, the individual may have to fast and use special laxatives to cleanse the bowel before swallowing the contrast material.
Parents can prepare children for x rays be explaining what will happen and that these tests are short and painless. Little aftercare is needed following an x ray. In complicated x rays where contrast material is injected into a blood vessel, the individual may need to remain under medical care for a short while to assure that there is no allergic reaction to the contrast material and recovery is complete.
Contrast agent —Also called a contrast medium, this is usually a barium or iodine dye that is injected into the area under investigation. The dye makes the interior body parts more visible on an x-ray film.
Electromagnetic radiation —Packets of energy that develop when an electric current passes through a vacuum tube. Endoscope —A medical instrument that can be passed into an area of the body the bladder or intestine, for example to allow visual examination of that area.
The endoscope usually has a fiberoptic camera that allows a greatly magnified image to be shown on a television screen viewed by the operator. Many endoscopes also allow the operator to retrieve a small sample biopsy of the area being examined, to more closely view the tissue under a microscope.
Low dose exposure to x rays creates minimal cell damage and minimal risk when x rays are performed in an accredited facility. There is an increased risk that a developing fetus will develop leukemia during childhood if exposed to x-ray radiation; pregnant or potentially pregnant women should avoid x rays. There is also a slight risk of an allergic reaction to the contrast material or dye used in certain x rays. Some parents are concerned about health consequences of their child's exposure to x-ray radiation.
However, doses of radiation received in most x rays are quite similar to the environmental background radiation one is exposed to simply by living on Earth. Although unnecessary x rays should be avoided, in most cases, the benefits greatly outweigh the potentially small increased risk of exposure. Independent Imaging is an ACR-accredited facility that also supports a number of initiatives to improve image quality, safety, and patient care. Search this website. Providers Portal Online Bill Pay.
Call Today Patient Forms Request an Appointment. Here are the top 3 uses of x-rays. Fractured Bones Patients who sustain a bone injury are usually asked to undergo x-rays. Mammography A mammogram is another very common application for the x-ray and is requested for patients who want to get tested for abnormal growths in the breast. Patient Education Want to know more about your test and what we are looking for? Find your condition or procedure in our online library.
That said, this recommendation is largely precautionary. These problems are associated with very high doses of radiation. A regular diagnostic X-ray will not expose a pregnant woman to high-dose radiation, and the benefits of what an X-ray could reveal will usually outweigh any risks. In addition, most X-ray tests, including those of the arms, legs, head, teeth, or chest, won't expose your uterus and other reproductive organs to radiation; you can be covered with a leaded apron or collar to block any scattered radiation.
The exception is abdominal X-rays, which may expose your baby to direct X-ray beams. The risk of harm to your baby depends on your baby's gestational age and the amount of radiation exposure. Before having an X-ray, tell your healthcare provider if you're expecting or if there's even a chance you could be pregnant.
It might be possible to postpone the test or modify it to reduce the amount of radiation. In addition, if you have a child who needs an X-ray, don't hold your child during the exam if you are or might be pregnant. Often, an X-ray will be done as part of a visit to your practitioner or emergency room to diagnose symptoms or evaluate an injury.
X-rays are also taken as part of certain routine exams, such as dental checkups. At other times, as in screening tests such as mammograms, an X-ray is performed as a single procedure, usually at regularly prescribed intervals. The setting in which you get an X-ray, and the reasons for it, will dictate your overall testing experience. It's impossible to generalize about how long an entire X-ray procedure will take.
It can take just a few minutes to get an image or two of an injured bone in an emergency room, while a CT scan appointment can take longer. If you're scheduling an X-ray, ask your healthcare provider to give you an idea of how much time you should allot. Most of the time, X-rays are done in hospital imaging departments particularly in the case of emergency situations or freestanding radiology and medical imaging clinics.
Some practitioners' offices are equipped to do X-rays, particularly those with certain specialties such as orthopedics and dental care. Many times urgent care centers have onsite X-ray machines as well. Your clothing choices for an X-ray will depend on the type of test you're having, the body part being imaged, and the purpose of the test. Generally speaking, you will be asked to remove any clothing covering the part of the body to be X-rayed.
For some procedures that involve X-ray imaging, you'll need to wear a hospital gown, so you may want to choose clothing that's easy to change into and out of. You may need to take off your jewelry and eyeglasses before an X-ray depending, again, on where on your body the radiation will be directed; metal can show up on the image.
If you will be having an X-ray using barium contrast dye, which is used most often to highlight structures in the digestive system, you will be told not to eat for at least three hours before your appointment.
If the barium will be administered via an enema, you also may be asked to eat a special diet and take medication to cleanse your colon beforehand. Most health insurance policies will cover any type of X-ray imaging that's medically necessary if you've met your deductible, though you may be responsible for a copay or co-insurance. Check with your insurance company to learn the specifics of your plan.
If you don't have insurance or you're paying out-of-pocket for an X-ray, the fee will depend on the body part being imaged, the number of images taken, whether a contrast dye is used, and many other factors.
Similarly, if you are paying for your X-ray and have time to research the fees, do that so that you know what you'll be obligated to pay for. You will need to have your insurance card with you at your X-ray. If your healthcare provider wrote a prescription for the procedure, bring that as well. Because X-ray procedures vary widely based on the purpose of the test, the parts of the body being imaged, the type of X-ray, and more, it's difficult to generalize the experience. In addition to reading through the broad description of what is likely to take place during an X-ray procedure that follows, ask your practitioner to give you as much detail as possible about what to expect in your specific case.
Depending on the part of your body to be imaged, you may need to remove some or all of your clothing. You'll be escorted to a dressing room or other private area where you can change into a hospital gown. There probably will be a locker where you can safely store your clothing and other belongings. If you will be having a test that involves a contrast dye, you will either swallow it in a special drink or it will be put into your body via injection, intravenous line, or enema, depending on the substance being used and what internal organs or structures are to be viewed.
A contrast medium containing barium may be swallowed to help illuminate how a part of the digestive system is functioning in real time during fluoroscopy. Oral barium contrast dye may not taste good, but most people can tolerate the flavor long enough to swallow the prescribed amount. If you are given barium rectally, you may have a feeling of abdominal fullness and an urgency to expel the liquid.
The mild discomfort will not last long. With the exception of IV contrast dye, which allows for a constant stream of the material, injectable, oral, and rectally administered contrasts will be given just prior to the X-ray images being taken. In other words, you will not have to wait for the dye to "take" before your imaging test.
A conventional X-ray will be taken in a special room where you will be asked to stand, sit, or lie down on an X-ray table. In order to capture the part of the body to be imaged, the technician will ask you to position your body in specific ways. They may move parts of your body for you or use props such as sandbags or pillows to position you properly. Once you're positioned correctly you will need to be very still: Even slight movement can cause an X-ray image to come out blurry.
You may even be asked to hold your breath. Note that young children having an X-ray may need to be gently restrained to help them hold still. The technician also may cover body parts that are not being imaged with a lead apron to protect them from exposure to radiation. For their own protection, they will then step behind a protective window from where they can operate the X-ray machine while also watching you.
It will take no longer to take an X-ray than it does to take a photograph—a few seconds. If multiple views of a body part are necessary, you may need to be positioned in different ways, or the machine may be moved to capture images at different angles. For each X-ray taken, the technician will set you up, adjust the machine, step behind the window, and take the image.
Note that mammograms are done using special X-ray machines with special plates that compress the breast so that the tissue spreads as flat as possible. This can be uncomfortable, but only for a few seconds per image taken. According to the American Cancer Society, a mammogram usually involves imaging each breast from two different angles for a total of four X-rays.
For a CT scan, you will lie down on a table that moved you into a cylindrical machine that rotates around you in order to take many pictures from all directions. You won't feel anything during a CT scan, but it may be uncomfortable for you if you dislike being in enclosed spaces. When all the required images have been taken, the lead apron if one was used will be removed and you will be allowed to leave the room.
If you need to change back into your street clothes, you'll be directed to the dressing area to change out of your hospital gown.
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