X-ray is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians to make a diagnosis. It is most commonly performed to evaluate the lungs, heart size, bowel and bones.
Women should always inform the radiographer if there is any possibility that they might be pregnant. Should the x-rays be necessary, precautions will be taken to minimize the radiation exposure to the baby.
Take note:
Depending on the area that will be examined, you may want to wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to change into a gown for the examination and to remove any jewellery or other metallic items from your body before the examination.
It is a quick, painless procedure that involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body.
To create a radiograph, you will be positioned with the part of the body being imaged between the x-ray source and the detector. On exposure, the x-rays will travel through the body and are absorbed in different amounts by different tissues, depending on the density of the tissue they pass through. This will produce a diagnostic image.
