What is Bone X-ray (Radiography)?

An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose 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.

A bone x-ray makes images of any bone in the body, including the hand, wrist, arm, elbow, shoulder, foot, ankle, leg (shin), knee, thigh, hip, pelvis or spine.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

A bone x-ray is used to:

1. Diagnose fractured bones or joint dislocation.

2. Demonstrate proper alignment and stabilization of bony fragments following treatment of a fracture.

3. Guide orthopedic surgery, such as spine repair/fusion, joint replacement and fracture reductions.

4. Look for injury, infection,arthritis, abnormal bone growths and bony changes seen in metabolic conditions.

5. Assist in the detection and diagnosis of bone cancer.

6. Locate foreign objects in soft tissues around or in bones.

How should I prepare?

Most bone x-rays require 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, removable dental appliances, 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. If an x-ray is necessary, precautions will be taken to minimize radiation exposure to the baby.  

What does the equipment look like?

The equipment typically used for bone x-rays consists of an x-ray tube suspended over a table on which the patient lies. A drawer under the table holds the x-ray film or image recording plate.

Sometimes the x-ray is taken with the patient standing upright, as in cases of knee x-rays.

A portable x-ray machine is a compact apparatus that can be taken to the patient in a hospital bed or the emergency room.  

How does the procedure work?

X-rays are a form of radiation like light (photons)or radio waves(electromagnetic waves). X-rays pass through most objects, including the body. Once it is carefully aimed at the part of the body being examined, an x-ray machine produces a small burst of radiation that passes through the body, recording an image on photographic film or a special detector.
Different parts of the body absorb the x-rays in varying degrees. Dense bone absorbs much of the radiation while soft tissue, such as muscle, fat and organs, allow more of the x-rays to pass through them. As a result, bones appear white on the x-ray, soft tissue shows up in shades of gray and air appears black.

Until recently, x-ray images were maintained as hard film copy (much like a photographic negative).

Today, most images are digital files that are stored electronically. These stored images are easily accessible and are frequently compared to current x-ray images for diagnosis and disease management.

How is the procedure performed?

The technologist, positions the patient on the x-ray table and places the x-ray film holder or digital recording plate under the table in the area of the body being imaged. When necessary, sandbags, pillows or other positioning devices will be used to help you maintain the proper position. A lead apron may be placed over your pelvic area or breasts when feasible to protect from radiation.
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.  
You may be repositioned for another view and the process is repeated. Two or three images (from different angles) will typically be taken around a joint (knee, elbow or wrist).
An x-ray may also be taken of the unaffected limb, or of a child's growth plate (where new bone is forming), for comparison purposes.
When the examination is complete, you will be asked to wait until the radiologist determines that all the necessary images have been obtained.
A bone x-ray examination is usually completed within five to 10 minutes.

What will I experience during and after the procedure?

A bone x-ray examination itself is a painless procedure.
You may experience discomfort from the cool temperature in the examination room. You may also find holding still in a particular position and lying on the hard examination table uncomfortable, especially if you are injured. The technologist will assist you in finding the most comfortable position possible that still ensures x-ray image quality.

Who interprets the results and how do I get them?

A radiologist, a physician specifically trained to supervise and interpret radiology examinations, will analyze the images and send a signed report to your referring physician, who will discuss the results with you.
Follow-up examinations may be necessary, and your doctor will explain the reason why another exam is needed. Sometimes a follow-up exam is done because a suspicious or questionable finding needs clarification with additional views or a special imaging technique.  

What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits

1. Bone x-rays are the fastest and easiest way for a physician to view and assess fractured bone and joint abnormalities, such as arthritis and spine injuries.

2. X-ray equipment is relatively inexpensive and widely available in emergency rooms, physician offices, ambulatory care centers, making it convenient for both patients and physicians.

3. Because x-ray imaging is fast and easy, it is particularly useful in emergency diagnosis and treatment.

4. No radiation remains in a patient's body after an x-ray examination.

Risks

A Word About Minimizing Radiation Exposure

Special care is taken during x-ray examinations to use the lowest radiation dose possible while producing the best images for evaluation. National and international radiology protection organizations continually review and update the technique standards used by radiology professionals.
Modern x-ray systems have very controlled x-ray beams and dose control methods to minimize scatter radiation. This ensures that those parts of a patient's body not being imaged receive minimal radiation exposure.

What are the limitations of Bone X-ray (Radiography)?

While x-ray images are among the clearest, most detailed views of bone, they provide little information about muscles, tendons or joints.
An MRI may be more useful in identifying ligament tears and joint effusions in knee or shoulder injuries and in imaging the spine, because both the bones and the spinal cord can be evaluated.  
CT is being used widely to assess trauma patients in emergency departments. A CT scan can image complicated fractures, subtle fractures or dislocations. In elderly or patients with osteoporosis, a hip fracture may be clearly seen on a CT scan, while it may be barely seen, if at all, on a hip x-ray.
For suspected spine injury, 3-D reconstructed CT images can be made without additional radiation exposure to help the diagnosis and treatment of the individual patient's condition.

Ultrasound imaging, which uses sound waves instead of ionizing radiation to create diagnostic images, has also been useful for injuries around joints, and in evaluating the hips of children with congenital problems.

X-ray showing frontal view of both hands.

Ankle x-ray (front view)

What is a Chest X-ray (Chest Radiography)?

The chest x-ray is the most commonly performed diagnostic x-ray examination. A chest x-ray makes images of the heart, lungs,airways, blood vessels and the bones of the spine and chest.
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 uses of the procedure?

The chest x-ray is performed to evaluate the lungs, heart and chest wall.

A chest x-ray is typically the first imaging test used to help diagnose symptoms such as:

1. Shortness of breath.

2. A bad or persistent cough.

3. Chest pain or injury.

4. Fever.

Physicians use the examination to help diagnose or monitor treatment for conditions such as:

1. Pneumonia.

2. Heart failure and other heart problems.

3. Emphysema

4. Lung cancer

5. Line and tube placement.

6. Other medical conditions.

How should I prepare?

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, removable dental appliances, 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.  

How is the procedure performed?

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 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 will 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.  

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.

Chest x-ray. Frontal view of a male patient.

Chest x-ray. Side view or lateral view of the chest.