X-ray is one of the methods of research, based on obtaining a fixed x-ray image on a specific medium, most often this role is played by an x-ray film.
The latest digital devices can capture this image also on paper or on the display screen.
Radiography of organs is based on the passage of rays through the anatomical structures of the body, as a result of which a projection image is obtained. Most often, x-rays are used as a diagnostic method. For greater information content, it is better to perform x-rays in two projections. This will allow you to more accurately determine the location of the investigated organ and the presence of pathology, if any.
The most often resorted to the study of the chest using this method, but an x-ray of other internal organs can also be done. An X-ray room is available in almost every clinic, so it will not be difficult to pass such a study.
What is the purpose of radiography
This type of research is carried out in order to diagnose specific lesions of internal organs in infectious diseases:
- Pneumonia.
- Myocarditis.
- Arthritis
It is also possible to detect diseases of the respiratory system and heart using an x-ray. In some cases, in the presence of individual indications, radiography is necessary to study the skull, spinal column, joints, digestive tract organs.
Indications for
If x-ray is an additional research method to diagnose certain diseases, in some cases it is prescribed as mandatory. This usually happens if:
- There is confirmed damage to the lungs, heart, or other internal organs.
- It is necessary to monitor the effectiveness of therapy.
- There is a need to verify the correct placement of the catheter and endotracheal tube.
Radiography is a research method that is used everywhere, it is not particularly difficult for the medical staff and for the patient himself. A snapshot is the same medical document as other research findings, so it can be presented to different specialists to clarify or confirm the diagnosis.
More often than not, each of us undergoes a chest x-ray. The main indicators for its implementation are:
- Prolonged cough, accompanied by chest pain.
- Identification of tuberculosis, lung tumors, pneumonia or pleurisy.
- Suspicion of pulmonary embolism.
- There are signs of heart failure.
- Traumatic lung injury, rib fractures.
- Foreign bodies entering the esophagus, stomach, trachea, or bronchi.
- Routine inspection.
Quite often, when you need to undergo a full examination, radiography is prescribed, among other methods.
X-ray benefits
Despite the fact that many patients are afraid to once again receive a radiation dose, undergoing x-ray, this method has many advantages compared to other studies:
- It is not only the most affordable, but also quite informative.
- Pretty high spatial resolution.
- To undergo such a study, special training is not needed.
- X-rays can be stored for a long time to monitor the dynamics of treatment and identify complications.
- Not only radiologists, but also other specialists can rate the image.
- It is possible to carry out radiography even by bedridden patients using a mobile device.
- This method is also considered one of the cheapest.
So, if you undergo such a study at least once a year, you will not cause harm to the body, but it is quite possible to identify serious diseases at the initial stage of development.
X-ray methods
Currently, there are two ways to conduct an x-ray:
- Analogue
- Digital.
The first of them is older, time-tested, but it takes some time to develop a picture and see the result on it. The digital method is considered new and now it is gradually replacing the analog. The result is displayed immediately on the screen, and you can print it, more than once.
Digital radiography has its advantages:
- Significantly improves the quality of images, which means information content.
- Ease of research.
- The ability to get instant results.
- The radiation load is reduced.
- The computer has the ability to process the result with a change in brightness and contrast, which allows more accurate quantitative measurements.
- The results can be stored for a long time in electronic archives, you can even transmit them over the Internet over distances.
- Economic efficiency.
Cons of radiography
Despite the many advantages, the method of radiography has its drawbacks:
- The image in the image is static, which makes it impossible to evaluate the functionality of the organ.
- In the study of small foci, information content is insufficient.
- Poor changes in soft tissues.
- Well, and, of course, one cannot fail to say about the negative effect of ionizing radiation on the body.
But be that as it may, radiography is a method that continues to be the most common for detecting pathologies of the lungs and heart. It is he who makes it possible to detect tuberculosis at an early stage and save millions of lives.
X-ray preparation
This research method is different in that it does not previously require special preparatory measures. It is only required at the appointed time to come to the X-ray room and do an X-ray.
If such a study is prescribed for the purpose of examining the digestive tract, then the following preparation methods will be required:
- If there are no deviations in the work of the digestive tract, then special measures should not be taken. With excessive flatulence or constipation, it is recommended to put a cleansing enema 2 hours before the study.
- If there is a large amount of food (liquid) in the stomach, washing should be done.
- Before conducting cholecystography, a radiopaque preparation is used, which penetrates the liver and accumulates in the gallbladder. To determine the contractility of the gallbladder, the patient is given a choleretic agent.
- In order to make cholegraphy more informative, before its administration, a contrast agent is injected intravenously, for example, “Bilignost”, “Bilitrast”.
- Irrigography is preceded by a contrast enema with barium sulfate. Before this, the patient should drink 30 g of castor oil, make a cleansing enema in the evening, do not have dinner.
Research Technique
At present, almost everyone knows where to take an x-ray, what is this study. The technique of its implementation is as follows:
- The patient is placed in front of the x-ray machine, if necessary, the study is carried out in a sitting or lying position on a special table.
- If tubes or hoses are inserted, make sure that they do not move during preparation.
- Until the end of the study, the patient is forbidden to make any movements.
- The medical worker before leaving the radiography leaves the room, if his presence is mandatory, then puts on a lead apron.
- Pictures are most often taken in several projections for greater information.
- After developing the images, their quality is checked, and if necessary, a second examination may be required.
- To reduce projection distortion, it is necessary to place part of the body as close to the cassette as possible.
If the radiography is performed on a digital apparatus, the image is displayed on the screen, and the doctor can immediately see deviations from the norm. The results are stored in a database and can be stored for a long time, if necessary, can be printed on paper.
How is the interpretation of the results of radiography
After radiography, it is necessary to correctly interpret its results. For this, the doctor evaluates:
- Location of internal organs.
- The integrity of bone structures.
- The location of the roots of the lungs and their contrast.
- How distinguishable are the main and small bronchi.
- Transparency of the lung tissue, the presence of blackouts.
If a radiography of the skull was performed , then it is necessary to identify:
- The presence of fractures.
- Severe intracranial hypertension with an increase in the brain.
- The pathology of the "Turkish saddle", which appears as a result of increased intracranial pressure.
- The presence of brain tumors.
To make a correct diagnosis, the results of an X-ray examination must be compared with other analyzes and functional tests.
Contraindications to radiography
Everyone knows that the radiation loads that the body experiences during such a study can lead to radiation mutations, despite the fact that they are very insignificant. In order to minimize the risk, it is necessary to do an x-ray only strictly as prescribed by the doctor and in compliance with all protection rules.
It is necessary to distinguish between diagnostic and preventive radiography. The first one has practically no absolute contraindications, but it must be remembered that it is also not recommended for everyone to do it. Such a study should be justified; you should not appoint it to yourself.
Even during pregnancy, if using other methods it is not possible to make a correct diagnosis, it is not forbidden to resort to radiography. The risk for the patient is always less than the harm that an undetected disease can bring in time.
In order to prevent radiography, pregnant women and children under 14 years old should not be done.
X-ray examination of the spine
X-ray of the spine is carried out quite often, the indications for it are:
- Pain in the back or limbs, the appearance of a feeling of numbness.
- Identification of degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs.
- The need to identify spinal injuries.
- Diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the spinal column.
- Spinal curvature detection.
- If there is a need to recognize congenital malformations of the spine.
- Diagnosing changes after surgery.
X-ray of the spine in the supine position is carried out, first you need to remove all the jewelry from yourself and undress to the waist.
The doctor usually warns that during the examination it is impossible to move so that the pictures do not turn out to be blurry. The procedure does not take more than 15 minutes and the patient does not cause inconvenience.
There are contraindications for radiography of the spine:
- Pregnancy.
- If an X-ray study using a barium compound has been done in the last 4 hours. In this case, quality pictures will not work.
- Obesity also does not allow to obtain informative images.
In all other cases, this research method has no contraindications.
Joint x-ray
Such a diagnosis is one of the main methods for studying the osteoarticular apparatus. Joint radiography may show:
- Violations in the structure of articular surfaces.
- The presence of bone growths along the edge of the cartilage.
- Plots of calcium deposition.
- The development of flat feet.
- Arthritis, arthrosis.
- Congenital pathology of bone structures.
Such a study helps not only to identify violations and deviations, but also to identify complications, as well as determine the tactics of treatment.
Indications for joint radiography may include:
- Joint pain.
- Change in its shape.
- Pain during movement.
- Limited mobility in the joint.
- Received injury.
If there is a need to undergo such a study, it is best to ask the attending physician where to take an X-ray of the joints in order to get the most reliable result.
Radiation Examination Requirements
In order for an X-ray examination to give the most effective result, it must be carried out in compliance with some requirements:
- The study area should be located in the center of the image.
- If there is damage to the tubular bones, then one of the adjacent joints must be visible in the picture.
- In case of fracture of one of the bones of the lower leg or forearm, both joints should be fixed in the picture.
- It is advisable to carry out radiography in different planes.
- If there are pathological changes in the joints or bones, then you need to take a picture of a symmetrically located healthy area so that you can compare and evaluate the changes.
- To make the correct diagnosis, the quality of the images must be high, otherwise a second procedure will be required.
If you follow all these recommendations, then there is no doubt that radiography will give the most informative result.
How often can I have an x-ray?
The effect of radiation on the body depends not only on the duration, but also on the intensity of exposure. The dose also directly depends on the equipment on which the study is carried out, the newer and more modern it is, the lower it is.
It is also worth considering that for different parts of the body there is a specific irradiation rate, since all organs and tissues have different sensitivity.
Radiography on digital devices reduces the dose several times, so it can be passed on them more often. It is clear that any dose is harmful to the body, but it is also worthwhile to understand that radiography is a study that can detect dangerous diseases, the harm from which is much greater for a person.