X-Rays

Also called: Radiography

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Summary

X-rays are a type of radiation called electromagnetic waves. X-ray imaging creates pictures of the inside of your body. The images show the parts of your body in different shades of black and white. This is because different tissues absorb different amounts of radiation. Calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the most, so bones look white. Fat and other soft tissues absorb less and look gray. Air absorbs the least, so lungs look black.

The most familiar use of x-rays is checking for fractures (broken bones), but x-rays are also used in other ways. For example, chest x-rays can spot pneumonia. Mammograms use x-rays to look for breast cancer.

When you have an x-ray, you may wear a lead apron to protect certain parts of your body. The amount of radiation you get from an x-ray is small. For example, a chest x-ray gives out a radiation dose similar to the amount of radiation you're naturally exposed to from the environment over 10 days.

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Medical X-Rays (Food and Drug Administration)
X-Ray (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Related Issues

Contrast Materials (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
How to Read Your Radiology Report (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Products for Security Screening of People (Food and Drug Administration)
Radiation Exposure in X-Ray and CT Examinations (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Tracing the X-Ray Trail (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish

Specifics

Abdomen X-Ray (Radiography) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Arthrography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Bone Density Scan (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Bone X-Ray (Radiography) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Catheter Angiography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Chest X-Ray (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) Also in Spanish
Chest X-Ray (Chest Radiography) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Cystogram (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
Discography (Discogram) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Fluoroscopy (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Lower Extremity Radiography (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF
Lower GI Series (Barium Enema) (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Myelography (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Panoramic Dental X-Ray (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Radiography of the Paranasal Sinuses (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
Skull Radiography (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
Upper Extremity Radiography (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Series (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Venography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Virtual Colonoscopy (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Why Do I Need X-Rays? (Academy of General Dentistry)

Videos and Tutorials

Chest X-Ray (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Reference Desk

RadiologyInfo: Glossary of Terms (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

American College of Radiology Accredited Facility Search (American College of Radiology)
Food and Drug Administration
RadiologyInfo (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Children

Dose Matters: FDA's Guidance on Children's X-rays (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
Keeping Kids Still during Exams (American Society of Radiologic Technologists) - PDF - In English and Spanish
Pediatric Voiding Cystourethrogram (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - PDF Also in Spanish
What Parents Should Know about Medical Radiation Safety (Alliance for Radiation Safety in Pediatric Imaging) - PDF
X-Ray Exam: Ankle (Nemours Foundation)
X-Ray Exam: Bone Age Study (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
X-Ray Exam: Cervical Spine (Nemours Foundation)
X-Ray Exam: Femur (Upper Leg) (Nemours Foundation)
X-Ray Exam: Foot (Nemours Foundation)
X-Ray Exam: Pelvis (Nemours Foundation)

Women

Galactography (Ductography) (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Hysterosalpingography (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Mammography: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
X-Rays, Pregnancy and You (Food and Drug Administration)

Patient Handouts

Barium enema (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Bone x-ray (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Chest x-ray (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Enteroclysis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Lumbosacral spine x-ray (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Pelvis x-ray (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Skull x-ray (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

X-Rays

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