Roentgenography (X-ray) is a study of internal organs and musculoskeletal system of a person using X-ray radiation. It is based on the ability of tissues of the human body to transmit and reflect X-rays. Using special X-ray equipment, these rays shine through the studied area of the patient’s body and project the image onto a film or digital medium.
Types of Roentgenography
In medicine, two types of X-ray machines are used – analog, or film, and digital. The former are familiar to everyone. They provide the projection of an X-ray image on a sensitive film with its subsequent manifestation. Digital X-ray allows to display the image not on film, but on the screen of a computer monitor.
Digital Radiography
Most modern clinics use now digital X-ray. It requires modern expensive equipment, computer support and training of medical staff. ADONIS X-ray rooms are fitted with the newest digital equipment. It provides a better image, which can be magnified many times and get a more accurate result. If necessary, the picture can also be printed on film.
Benefits of Digital Radiography:
- Minimum radiation exposure – the exposure level is 10-12 times lower than when using analog devices, due to the greater sensitivity to the X-ray radiation of CCD matrices, which are the basis of the receiving devices of digital devices.
- Quick result – the image is displayed on the screen immediately after an X-ray.
- High image quality – thanks to software processing, images are sharper and can be enlarged.
- Comfortable storage – the picture can be stored on a digital medium, sent by e-mail to another specialist and printed on film if necessary.
- The lower cost of the procedure – the cost of a digital X-ray without an image is usually lower, since it does not require film and reagents.
Contrast radiography
In some cases, to improve the visualization of hollow organs and soft tissues, patients are prescribed radiography using a contrast medium. Contrast is used when it is necessary to diagnose the location of the organ, structure of its walls and functional features. The contrast agent improves the visualization of areas with the same density and allows better detection of neoplasms, hemorrhages, internal bleeding, ulcers, polyps, varicose veins and some other pathologies.
The contrast medium may be administered intravenously or orally. It depends on the location of the investigated area. The procedure is usually painless, but has a number of contraindications. Most often, a radiography of stomach, intestines and other organs of the abdominal cavity, as well as the kidneys, is performed with a contrast agent or barium.
Roentgenography with functional tests
With pathologies of the spine, hips, wrist and knee joints, feet and lungs, radiography with functional tests is sometimes used. During the study, several pictures are taken in different positions. The specialist selects functional tests for each patient individually.
Functional tests for X-ray of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine allow to assess the mobility, to determine the position of the intervertebral hernia and other pathological changes.
X-ray is used in:
- Orthopedics and Traumatology
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Dentistry
- Otolaryngology
- Pulmonology
- Endocrinology
- Rheumatology
- Urology
- Gynecology
- Gastroenterology
- Surgery
The study should always be prescribed by a doctor. In some cases, the X-ray may not be sufficiently informative, and the doctor may refer the patient to computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Contraindications and limitations
There are practically no direct contraindications to radiography. At the same time, due to ionizing radiation, the study is recommended to be carried out only according to the indications and doctor’s prescription, minimizing the degree of radiation as much as possible. Children and adolescents are advised to do X-ray of one area no more than once a year, covering the rest of the body. Pregnant women in the early stages are recommended to refrain from examination. A doctor should always prescribe an X-ray, evaluating the indications and possible risks.
In ADONIS, adults and children can undergo radiography of:
- Spine
- Joints
- Wrists
- Fingers
- Forearms
- Legs
- Feet
- Heels
- Skull
- Sinuses
- Jaws and teeth
- Chest organs
- Abdominal organs
- Urinary system
- Pelvic organs
- Mammary glands
- Kidneys and other organs, systems, and soft tissues