What is an X-ray?

X-rays are made by using external radiation to produce images of the body, its organs, and other internal structures for diagnostic purposes. X-rays pass through body tissues onto specially-treated plates (similar to camera film) and a “negative” type picture is made. The more solid a structure is, the whiter it appears on the film. Instead of film, X-rays are now typically made by using computers and digital media.

When the body undergoes this imaging procedure, different parts of the body allow varying amounts of the beams to pass through. Images are made in degrees of light and dark. It depends on the amount of X-rays that penetrate the tissues. The soft tissues in the body (like blood, skin, fat, and muscle) allow most of the beams to pass through and appear dark gray on the film.

A bone or a tumor, which is denser than soft tissue, allows few of the beams to pass through and appears white on the image. At a break in a bone, the beam passes through the broken area. It appears as a dark line in the white bone.

Risks of an X-Ray

You may want to ask your health care provider about the amount of radiation used during the procedure and the risks related to your particular situation. It is a good idea to keep a record of your past history of radiation exposure, like previous scans and other types of X-rays, so that you can inform your healthcare provider. Risks associated with radiation exposure may be related to the cumulative number of X-ray exams and/or treatments over a long period of time.

If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, you should notify your healthcare provider. Radiation exposure during pregnancy may lead to birth defects. If it is necessary for you to have a spinal X-ray, special precautions will be made to minimize the radiation exposure to the fetus.

There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your health care provider prior to the procedure.

Before Your X-Ray

Your health care provider will explain the procedure to you and offer you the opportunity to ask questions that you might have about the procedure.
Generally, no prior preparation, like fasting or sedation, is required.
Notify the radiologic technologist if you are pregnant or suspect you may be pregnant.
Notify the radiologic technologist if you have had a recent barium X-ray procedure, as this may interfere with obtaining an optimal exposure of the lower back area.
Based on your medical condition, your health care provider may request other specific preparation.

During Your X-Ray

You will be asked to remove any clothing, jewelry, hairpins, eyeglasses, hearing aids, or other metal objects that may interfere with the procedure.
If you are asked to remove any clothing, you will be given a gown to wear.
You will be positioned on a table that carefully places the part of the spine that is to be evaluated between the X-ray machine and a cassette containing film or digital media. Your health care provider may also request X-ray views to be taken from a standing position.
Body parts not being imaged may be covered with a lead apron (shield) to avoid exposure to the X-rays.
The radiologic technologist will ask you to hold still in a certain position for a few moments while the exposure is made.
If the X-ray is being performed to determine an injury, special care will be taken to prevent further injury. For example, a neck brace may be applied if a cervical spine fracture is suspected.
Some spinal studies may require several different positions. Unless the technologist instructs you otherwise, it is extremely important to remain completely still while the exposure is made. Any movement may distort the image and even require another study to be done to obtain a clear image of the body part in question. You may be asked to breathe in and out during a thoracic spine X-ray.
The beam will be focused on the area to be photographed.
The radiologic technologist will step behind a protective window while the image is taken.

While the procedure itself causes no pain, the manipulation of the body part being examined may cause some discomfort or pain. This is particularly true in the case of a recent injury or invasive procedure like surgery. The radiologic technologist will use all possible comfort measures and complete the procedure as quickly as possible to reduce any discomfort or pain.

After Your X-Ray

Generally, there is no special type of care following this procedure. However, your health care provider may give you additional or alternate instructions after the procedure, depending on your particular situation.

How Do I Find Out My X-Ray Test Results?

The physician’s office who ordered the imaging for you will notify you of your imaging results. You may also access your results using the MyCovenantHealth online portal and app.