Also known as radiography, X-Rays are the oldest medical imaging modality. They have been in use since 1895 when they were discovered by a German physicist named Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen. Nearly two weeks after his discovery, he took the very first picture using X-Rays of his wife's hand, Anna Bertha. This achievement earned him the first Nobel Prize in Physics in 1901.
Today, radiologists use X-Ray to report both normal and abnormal conditions in the body. The most commonly obtained plain films are generally of the chest, abdomen and bones. Plain films may aid in the diagnosis of chest, abdominal or joint pain, difficulty breathing, fever, vomiting and traumatic injury diagnosing conditions such as pneumonia, congestive heart failure, fractures and arthritis. X-Ray beams can pass through your body, but they are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the material they pass through. Dense materials, such as bone and metal, show up as white on X-rays. The air in your lungs shows up as black. Fat and muscle look like varying shades of gray. During the examination the patient will be positioned appropriately between the x ray tube and the electronic detector system by an experienced, certified technologist. Care will be taken to ensure that the x ray beam is directed only to the body part being imaged. For certain examinations, multiple images may be obtained. The images obtained are then processed and sent to the radiologist for review, interpretation and reporting. The exam generally takes only a few minutes.
Radiologic Technologists are registered with American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) and licensed by the Texas Department of Health (TDH). All technologists participate in continuing education annually to fulfill their licensure credentialing requirement.
Women should inform their physician if they are pregnant, or if there is any possibility they may be pregnant.
Radiation Dose: Special care is taken during X-Ray examinations to use of the lowest radiation dose possible while producing the best images for evaluation.