An x-ray (radiograph) is a noninvasive medical test that involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of radiation to produce pictures or x-rays of the inside of the body. A lung x-ray may be taken if advanced cervical cancer is suspected.
Before the exam
- No special pre-exam diet or fluid intake is necessary
- You may be asked to wear a gown during the exam
- You may also be asked to remove jewelry, eye glasses and any metal objects or clothing that might interfere with the x-ray images
You'll be asked to position your body appropriately and a set of x-rays will be taken. Once the x-ray machine is carefully aimed at the part of the body being examined, it produces a small burst of radiation that passes through the body, recording an image on photographic film or a special digital image recording plate.
Taking a look at the lungs and surrounding pleural space for accumulation of fluid, is another tool for cancer diagnosis.Your X-ray will reveal if the cancer has spread or if there is fluid that can be tested for the presence of cancer cells.
Digital x-ray imaging
Riverside uses an advanced form of X-ray imaging called digital radiography. Digital x-rays are a new type of exam in which the image is produced with conventional equipment, but the image is viewed on a computer instead of a light box. The image is created on a reusable plate, read by a laser reader, converted to a digital format and stored in a computer which is available to your radiologist, specialist and doctor via a computer network. Using digital x-rays makes communication among your specialists easier and provides more coordinated care for you.