Diagnostic Radiology (X-RAY)
What is an X-ray exam?
X-rays (also called a radiograph) are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging. An X-ray is a painless medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Radiography involves exposing a part of the body to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body
How does it work?
An X-ray machine produces a small burst of radiation that passes through the body, recording an image of a particular body part on photographic film, or a special image recording plate. Much like a photographic negative, an X-ray image is maintained as hard film copy or as a digital image that is stored electronically. These stored images are easily accessed so they can be compared to current X-ray images for diagnosis and disease management.
Why would you need this exam?
A bone X-ray is typically used to determine if a bone has been fractured or if a joint is dislocated. It is also used to ensure that a fracture has been properly aligned and stabilized for healing following treatment. In some circumstances, it is used to determine whether there is a build up of fluid in the joint or around a bone. X-ray exams can also be used as a guide in orthopedic surgery, such as spinal repair, joint replacement and fracture reductions; evaluate injury or damage from conditions such as infection, arthritis, abnormal bone growths or other bone diseases, such as osteoporosis.
Pre-exam instructions for an X-ray exam
Most bone X-rays require no special preparation. You may be asked to remove some or all of your clothes and 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. Women should always inform their physician or our X-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Many imaging tests are not performed during pregnancy because radiation can be harmful to the fetus.
To schedule your X-ray, please call us at (707) 525-4040. If you need to cancel, please call us 24 hours prior to your scheduled exam time.
The day of your exam
On the day of your exam, please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time. If it is your first exam with us, we may ask that you bring any previous X-ray films with you. Please be ready to present your insurance information when you check in. Our radiology technologist, an individual specially trained to perform radiology examinations, will position you on the X-ray table and place the X-ray film holder or digital recording plate under the table in the area of your body being imaged. When necessary, sandbags or pillows will be used to help you hold the proper position. A heavy lead apron may be placed over your pelvic area to protect it from radiation.
You must hold very still during the exam. You may be asked to stop breathing for a few seconds while the X-ray picture is taken to reduce the possibility of a blurred image. As a safety precaution, our technologist will walk behind a wall or into the next room to activate the X-ray machine. You may be repositioned for another view and the process will be repeated. In most situations at least two images from different angles will be taken and often three images are needed if the area of concern is around a joint such as a knee, elbow or wrist. An X-ray of the unaffected limb may also be taken for comparison purposes.
After your exam
When the examination is complete, you will be asked to wait until the technologist determines that the images are of high enough quality for the radiologist to read. A bone X-ray examination is usually completed within 5 to 10 minutes.
Our radiologist will analyze the images and send a signed report to your primary care or referring physician, who will share the results with you.
X-ray side-effects
When special care is taken during X-ray examinations, there are no harmful side effects. We try to use the lowest radiation dose possible while producing the best images for evaluation. National and international radiology protection councils continually review and update the technique standards used by radiology professionals. All of our procedures are certified by the American College of Radiology and we use state-of-the-art X-ray equipment.