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Read MoreWe understand how stressful it can be to have a potential illness or injury, which is why our experienced imaging technologists and radiologists are here to conduct X-rays when you need them—close to home at all our imaging facilities, including our outpatient AMI at Inspira locations.
What are X-rays?
X-rays take pictures of the inside of your body using electromagnetic energy and allow physicians to examine your internal tissues, bones and organs. X-rays are quick and painless tests that can show injuries and other conditions such as broken bones, infections, certain types of cancer, blocked blood vessels, digestive tract problems and swallowed items.
How X-rays Work
During an X-ray, beams of electromagnetic energy pass through your body and are absorbed in different amounts by your bones, tissues and organs. The density of the materials determines how they show up on the X-ray image. Dense materials, such as bones or metal, show up white, the air in your lungs shows up black, and the soft tissue of your fat and muscles shows up as different shades of gray.
Certain types of X-rays require a contrast medium, such as iodine or barium, that can be swallowed or injected into the body. A contrast medium can help produce more detailed images of certain parts of the body, such as the blood vessels or digestive tract.
Types of X-rays
X-rays can be done on many different parts of the body and may be used in combination with other imaging techniques in certain types of tests. Besides standard radiography, other types of X-rays include:
- Angiography, an X-ray of the blood vessels
- Computed tomography (CT) scan, which uses multiple X-rays to create a 3D image
- Mammography, an X-ray of the breasts
- Fluoroscopy, which produces a moving image of the organs
- Bone density (DEXA) scan, which uses two X-ray beams to measure bone density
What to Expect When You Have an X-ray
Our team of imaging specialists will make sure you understand what to expect on the day of your X-ray and inform you of any special instructions you’ll need to follow. For example, certain X-rays may require you to stop eating and drinking beforehand for the best results. Others may require you to drink a contrast material that helps make your internal organs visible on the X-ray. In most cases, your technologist will ask you to remove any metal objects you’re wearing—like jewelry, glasses or a bra with an underwire—before your X-ray.
X-rays take just a few minutes and are painless, though they can be a bit uncomfortable. Your technologist may ask you to stand or lie in different positions to capture comprehensive images. X-rays are taken using a safe level of radiation.
After the exam is complete, the images are sent to your radiologist who uses voice recognition software to interpret them and quickly send them to your physician.
