Plain radiography (X-ray) has been the mainstay of medical imaging diagnosis for the past one hundred years. X-ray examinations are particularly useful for evaluation of diseases of the chest, spine, sinuses, and extremities. Survey x-ray examinations of the abdomen and pelvis are also commonly performed.
Several components are critical to production of the highest quality plain radiographs. A high output generator supplies constant power to the X-ray tube, resulting in a uniform X-ray beam of the desired energy level. Once the X-ray beam has passed through the body part of interest, it next encounters the film cassette. In the cassette, the radiographic film is sandwiched between two rare earth plates, or screens, which emit light when contacted by the X-ray beam. The majority of the exposure of radiographic film comes from interaction of the X-ray beam with the rare earth screens, and not from the actual X-rays themselves. In this way, X-ray exposure of the patient may be kept to a minimum. Please refer to the Straight Talk about X-rays region of our Website. Finally, care must be taken to ensure that the film processing is carried out using strict quality control.
Plain radiographic examinations are tailored to the body part of interest. Some anatomic regions may only require one or two films for a full evaluation, whereas other conditions or body locations may require four or more separate views.
No special preparation is required for plain radiography. The procedure is painless and quick, requiring only a few minutes for a complete examination.
Please notify our staff prior to the examination if you are pregnant or think that you might be pregnant.