X-rays for Everyone: An Introduction to Radiography

X-rays are well known to us. Since its discovery in 1895, X-rays have evolved rapidly.

An X-ray is a quick, painless test that can reveal the signs of disease and injury and help our doctors decide on the treatment we need.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), medical X-rays are used in radiography, fluoroscopy, and computed tomography procedures.

Let’s take a look at radiography, what are its uses, and where you can go to receive urgent medical care and a radiograph in and around Fort Worth, TX.

What is Radiography?

X-rays are electromagnetic radiations with high energy and pass through most objects, including the body. When X-rays are sent to the human body, it generates images of tissues and structures present inside the today. When these rays traveling through the body pass through the detector present on the other side of the patient’s body, an image is formed. The image represents the objects inside the body in the form of shadows.

There are many types of X-ray detectors; one type of X-ray detector is a photographic film. An X-ray image produced using photographic film is called a radiograph, and the process of generating a radiograph is known as radiography.

In a nutshell, radiography is a technique in which a still X-ray image is produced to diagnose or treat patients by recording images of the internal tissues and structures of the body. The images are assessed for the presence and absence of disease, structural anomaly, and foreign objects.

What Are the Uses of Radiography?

In many types of examinations and procedures, a record of a static image of the tissues and structures of the body is desired. Radiography is used in such examinations and procedures, which include:

• Dental examination – to check for cavities, fractures, and infection in the teeth.
• Orthopedic evaluation – to check for fractures and infection of the bone, reveal the evidence of arthritis, measure your bone density, and reveal bone tumors.
• Chiropractic examination – To detect abnormalities in the spine, neck, or back causing pain
• Verification of the correct placement of surgical markers before a surgery or invasive procedure
• Mammography – To examine breast tissue for the early detection of breast cancer.

What are the Risks of Radiography?

Because radiography is a type of X-ray procedure, it carries the same risks as other procedures. The dose of radiation used in radiography varies depending on the procedure – and is usually less than that patient receives during fluoroscopy and computed tomography.

Some major risks that may be associated with radiography include:

• Possibilities (though small) of developing cataracts and radiation-induced cancer
• Possibility of causing a disturbance in the growth and development of fetus or embryo when performed on pregnant or child-bearing age women.

Remember that, when done for medical needs, the benefits of radiography far exceed the risks associated with the procedure.

X-rays in Fort Worth, TX

If you contemplate having an x-ray examination, look no further than EMC Express Care. At our facility, in addition to providing medical care for acute non-life-threatening conditions, we have the latest and safest equipment to produce fast and accurate results of imaging exams, including X-rays. Our professional radiologists and radiographer will guide you throughout the exam to make you comfortable.

If you would like to make an appointment, call us today at (817) 503-8800 or walk in to our clinic any day a week from 10am to 8pm.