X-ray is one of the most commonly used medical imaging exams to see inside the body. It is the earliest form of medical imaging, has been in use since the late 19th century, and is highly versatile. X-rays use high-energy electromagnetic radiation to generate images of bones and soft tissues. Other tests, like a CT scan, use X-rays to create cross-sectional images of structures in the body for diagnostic or monitoring purposes.
Your health care provider will determine if you need an X-ray and will request one depending on your condition or the symptoms you are experiencing. Let’s talk about the situations where you would likely need to undergo an X-ray.
Who Needs an X-Ray?
X-rays can be used to diagnose a wide range of conditions and injuries. Here are the most common examples:
Orthopedic Injuries
Sports, work, or accident injuries may warrant an X-ray. If you are experiencing symptoms such as pain and deformity related to an incident, your doctor may request an X-ray, so they can find out the nature and extent of your injury. X-ray results can reveal sprains, strains, fractures, a dislocation, arthritis, bone spurs, fluid collecting around a joint, and much more.
Respiratory Disease
Patients with respiratory symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, wheezing, sputum production, and difficulty breathing may have a lung condition. The best way to see problems with the lungs is through an X-ray. An X-ray can reveal bronchitis, pneumonia, tumors, cancers, air collecting in the lungs, and much more. It can also reveal problems with the heart.
Abdominal Issues
Abdominal pain is another common reason for an X-ray. Abdominal symptoms can be difficult to diagnose without seeing where exactly the problem is through diagnostic imaging. An X-ray can display kidney stones, masses, blockages, or holes in the intestines.
Foreign Body Retrieval
Another lesser-known reason X-ray is used is to detect foreign objects for retrieval. X-rays are very useful in locating items that are swallowed, shrapnel, or misplaced medical devices.
Disease Monitoring and Treatment
Besides being used in diagnosis, an X-ray is also used to monitor the progression of diseases and medical conditions, check if injuries are healing correctly, and assess the effectiveness of treatment.
X-Ray Service in The Bronx, NY
At Starling Diagnostics, we offer the latest in medical imaging. We offer digital X-rays, which is a more advanced form of X-ray that uses extra sensitive plates. The result is a quick scan using less radiation and resulting in sharper and highly detailed images. The results are immediately transferred to the computer and made available on the same day.
Our health care team at Starling Diagnostics strives to give our patients a pleasant and comfortable experience. As part of our mission, we offer the most advanced tests at an affordable price. We are proud to serve the Parkchester community.
If you have questions about our services or to schedule a scan, call us today at (718) 319-1610 or use our request form. For physician referrals, please use this form.
