X-Ray

About

An X-ray exam is a standard and painless method of imaging that passes small amounts of radiation through the body to create pictures of your internal organs or bones. They're primarily used to detect fractured bones, injuries, infections, or foreign objects in soft tissue. Some X-ray procedures may also involve using contrast materials like iodine or barium to enhance the visibility of specific organs, blood vessels, tissues, or bones.

Types of X-Rays

An abdominal X-ray allows your physician to view your liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, urinary bladder, gallbladder, large and small bowel, and aorta to screen for disease or abnormality.

Upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) X-rays screen for ulcers, gastritis, hiatal hernia, cancer, polyps, and bowel obstruction. Follow your doctor’s instructions for abstaining from eating and drinking before the exam. You will drink a liquid barium mixture to make your organs show up on the X-ray film. Be sure to inform your doctor and the X-ray technologist if you are (or could be) pregnant.

In some cases, a more invasive procedure may be necessary to diagnose or treat your gastrointestinal (GI) condition.

X-rays of the upper and lower extremities (arms and legs) are used to look for fractures, changes caused by arthritis, dislocation, tumors, abnormal structure and density, and osteoporosis.

A chest X-ray provides your doctor with great information to help him plan your treatment. It can detect injury to the organs in the chest, bronchitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, asthma, congestive heart failure, emphysema, enlarged heart, and lung tumors.

An intravenous pyelogram is a specialized X-ray designed to examine the urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, and bladder) closely. It involves injecting the patient with a medication called a “contrast medium” that allows the soft tissues to register on the X-ray film.

To prepare for the IVP test, follow your doctor’s instructions about liquid intake and diet. The contrast medium may make you feel warm and flushed and create a metallic taste in your mouth. This is normal. You should, however, let the technologist know if you begin to itch, feel short of breath, or become uncomfortable since a small percentage of patients have a reaction to the medication.

Be sure to let your doctor and the x-ray technologist know if you are (or could be) pregnant.

Locations

  • Hunt Regional Center Greenville
    Hunt Regional Medical Center Greenville

    4215 Joe Ramsey Blvd, Greenville, TX 75401 | 903.408.5000

  • Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center at Commerce

    2800 TX-24 Suite A, Commerce, TX 75428 | 903.886.3161

  • Hunt Regional Emergency Medical Center at Quinlan

    738 E. Quinlan Pkwy., Quinlan, TX 75474 | 903.408.4800

  • Hunt Regional Open Imaging – Greenville

    3003 Joe Ramsey Blvd, Greenville, TX 75401 | 903.455.3330

  • Hunt Regional Open Imaging – Rockwall

    909 Rockwall Parkway, Rockwall, TX 75032 | 469.698.0045

Related Services

Additional Resources