Diseases of the spine are almost always characterized by discomfort in the back and chest. Occasionally, shortness of breath, breathing problems, excessive fatigue, pain in the heart can occur. To diagnose the pathology that triggered the occurrence of such negative symptoms, an x-ray of the thoracic spine is performed. This examination technique has been widely used by doctors for over 150 years. What the result of the examination looks like, you can see the x-ray photo of the thoracic spine.
Indications for implementation
An x-ray of the thoracic spine is recommended in the presence of even the slightest discomfort in the back during exercise (turns and tilts of the body).
Symptoms in which an X-ray is recommended include the following:
- persistent discomfort in the sternum, arms and legs;
- infectious diseases;
- spinal injuries;
- suspicion of the appearance of malignant or benign formations;
- scoliosis;
- pathology of the congenital type.
An x-ray of the thoracic spine is necessarily carried out after surgery aimed at the regeneration of the health of the spine.
What is visible on the x-ray of the thoracic spine?
X-ray is one of the most accurate diagnostic methods and allows you to accurately identify the affected areas. The procedure guarantees the detection of pathologies not only in the spine itself, but also in the nearby departments.
An x-ray of the thoracic spine in two projections is performed to detect the shape and structure of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. During the study, various kinds of vertebral curvature are found.
In addition, due to x-ray, there is the opportunity to detect a number of diseases of the thoracic spine:
- pathological bone deformities;
- incorrect placement of the vertebrae;
- curvature, and as a result, a decrease in joint mobility;
- negative consequences provoked by dislocations and fractures;
- bone disease;
- various disturbances in the functioning of disks located between the vertebrae;
- metastases;
- osteoporosis.
Preparatory stage
Having figured out what the x-ray of the thoracic spine shows, you can proceed to perform manipulations to prepare for the radiography.
During preparation, observe several rules:
- Two days before the procedure, it is recommended to follow a special diet. This diet food involves the rejection of bakery products, dairy products, milk, fresh cabbage, potatoes, beans. It is forbidden to eat foods that provide an increase in flatulence.
- If there are problems with flatulence, doctors advise to use activated charcoal, a tablet three times a day, a couple of days before the X-ray.
- The last meal on the eve of the study should occur no later than 19:00.
- An enema can be used to clean the intestines on the day of the procedure. This is required due to the fact that a large number of gases prevents the free passage of x-ray rays. As a result, the chest x-ray photo is not clear and it’s rather difficult to determine the diagnosis.
Execution technology
A characteristic feature of the procedure is the performance of x-rays from three sides: side, back and front.
Performing an x-ray of the thoracic spine is quite simple. The patient removes the top and gets rid of all accessories, after which he lies on his back or side. In addition, an examination with a tilt angle of 45 degrees is occasionally performed.
In most cases, to get an accurate picture of the condition of the spine, at least 5 pictures are required, which are performed over 25 minutes. In the course of taking pictures, the patient should never move, since even the slightest change in position can distort the final result and complicate the diagnosis.
Radiography with functional tests
The diagnostic feature consists in performing an x-ray in a lateral projection during flexion and extension when the patient is in a supine position.
Selection of functional samples is carried out individually. Most often, such a procedure is performed to diagnose diseases of the lumbar and cervical spine. Since the sternum is inactive, it is very rarely subjected to research using such a technique.
Deciphering the results
After performing the thoracic spine in two projections (if necessary, in three), the radiologist analyzes the images obtained, makes a certain conclusion, and then transfers the images to such a specialist as a vertebrologist. It is this doctor who performs the final diagnosis and prescribes the required treatment.
If during the procedure the patient had sternal kyphosis, then the upper and lower vertebrae in the images have a deformed appearance: they overlap each other, and the disks between the vertebrae are absolutely not visible. When pneumonia is diagnosed, a special basal form can be observed in the image, which looks like butterfly wings, this also indicates venous stasis in the small circle.
Contraindications
Performing an x-ray of the thoracic and lumbar spine is strictly contraindicated in the following cases:
- the period of bearing a child;
- obesity - in this situation, the pictures are not clear enough;
- excessive activity of the patient when he simply is not able to lie still during the procedure;
- if studies have been carried out over the past 4 hours during which barium suspension has been used;
- a number of spinal injuries.
X-ray for children
Today, an x-ray of the cervicothoracic spine is considered one of the simplest and most affordable diagnostic procedures for various diseases in children. But before performing this procedure, you need to consult a pediatrician.
A child under 12 years of age is performed in the presence of one of the parents. In childhood, this procedure is most often performed in order to identify diseases of the musculoskeletal system, bronchi, lungs and heart. A timely x-ray allows you to detect malignant formations in the early stages, in addition, pathologies of the skeletal system are detected.
As for infants, they are advised to refuse to carry out this procedure, it is preferable to perform an ultrasound, MRI, echocardiogram. But, unfortunately, the price of these services is quite high and not everyone can afford it.
Examination Harm Reduction
During the X-ray, a person receives radiation in the amount of 0.03-0.7 mSv, that is, this amount of radiation is not enough to cause harm to health, but it’s better not to accumulate it.
To prevent possible harm to health, after each x-ray, the doctor must write down on the patient's card how much radiation was received by him. Based on this information, the next radiation dosage will be calculated and its increase or decrease determined.
In addition, the negative impact of radiation on the body can be reduced by adjusting nutrition. It is recommended to add seafood, dairy products, walnuts and carrots to the menu. Such nutrition will contribute to the elimination of part of the radionuclides from the body, thereby reducing the negative consequences of diagnosis.
The cost of an x-ray of the thoracic spine varies, taking into account the selected clinic and the complexity of diagnosis. Many patients insist on carrying out the procedure in private clinics, since there you will not have to sit in queues for a long time and you can be sure that the equipment is working. But naturally, the procedure in such a clinic will require additional financial costs.
As a rule, the cost of the procedure varies from 1200 to 4000 rubles.