Understanding 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 for the diagnosis or treatment of your gastrointestinal (GI) condition.
X-rays of the upper and lower extremities (arms and legs) are used look for fractures, changes caused by arthritis, dislocation, tumors, abnormal structure and density, and osteoporosis.
A chest X-ray provides your doctor with a great deal of 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 take a close look at your urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, and bladder) using the intravenous injection of a medication called a “contrast medium” that allows the soft tissues to register on the X-ray film.
Follow your doctor’s instructions about liquid intake and diet to prepare for the IVP test. 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.