X-ray: Imaging test quickly helps diagnosis - Mayo Clinic

An X-ray is a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures inside your body — particularly your bones. X-ray beams pass through ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions Weareopenforsafein-personcare. Learnmore: MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19) OurCOVID-19patientandvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformation Lateston COVID-19vaccination bysite: Arizonapatientvaccinationupdates Arizona, Floridapatientvaccinationupdates Florida, Rochesterpatientvaccinationupdates Rochesterand MayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdates MCHS Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforX-rayAboutDoctors&Departments Print OverviewAnX-rayisaquick,painlesstestthatproducesimagesofthestructuresinsideyourbody—particularlyyourbones. X-raybeamspassthroughyourbody,andtheyareabsorbedindifferentamountsdependingonthedensityofthematerialtheypassthrough.Densematerials,suchasboneandmetal,showupaswhiteonX-rays.Theairinyourlungsshowsupasblack.Fatandmuscleappearasshadesofgray. ForsometypesofX-raytests,acontrastmedium—suchasiodineorbarium—isintroducedintoyourbodytoprovidegreaterdetailontheimages.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic Whyit'sdone X-rayofkneearthritis Openpop-updialogbox Close X-rayofkneearthritis X-rayofkneearthritis Kneearthritiscanaffectonesideofthejointmorethantheother.ThisX-rayimageshowshowthecushioningcartilagehaswornaway,allowingbonetotouchbone. ChestX-ray Openpop-updialogbox Close ChestX-ray ChestX-ray AchestX-rayhelpsdetectproblemswithyourheartandlungs.ThechestX-rayontheleftisnormal.Theimageontherightshowsamassintherightlung. X-rayofswallowedjack Openpop-updialogbox Close X-rayofswallowedjack X-rayofswallowedjack X-rayscanlocatemetalobjectsyourchildhasswallowed,suchasthisjack. X-raytechnologyisusedtoexaminemanypartsofthebody. Bonesandteeth Fracturesandinfections.Inmostcases,fracturesandinfectionsinbonesandteethshowupclearlyonX-rays. Arthritis.X-raysofyourjointscanrevealevidenceofarthritis.X-raystakenovertheyearscanhelpyourdoctordetermineifyourarthritisisworsening. Dentaldecay.DentistsuseX-raystocheckforcavitiesinyourteeth. Osteoporosis.SpecialtypesofX-raytestscanmeasureyourbonedensity. Bonecancer.X-rayscanrevealbonetumors. Chest Lunginfectionsorconditions.Evidenceofpneumonia,tuberculosisorlungcancercanshowuponchestX-rays. Breastcancer.MammographyisaspecialtypeofX-raytestusedtoexaminebreasttissue. Enlargedheart.ThissignofcongestiveheartfailureshowsupclearlyonX-rays. Blockedbloodvessels.InjectingacontrastmaterialthatcontainsiodinecanhelphighlightsectionsofyourcirculatorysystemtomakethemvisibleonX-rays. Abdomen Digestivetractproblems.Barium,acontrastmediumdeliveredinadrinkoranenema,canhelprevealproblemsinyourdigestivesystem. Swalloweditems.Ifyourchildhasswallowedsomethingsuchasakeyoracoin,anX-raycanshowthelocationofthatobject. MoreInformationAcanthosisnigricansACLinjuryAcutecoronarysyndromeAcutelymphocyticleukemiaAdultStill'sdiseaseAmbiguousgenitaliaAnalcancerAnkylosingspondylitisAnorexianervosaArthritisAscariasisAspergillosisAsthmaAtrialfibrillationAtrialseptaldefect(ASD)AvascularnecrosisBackpainBed-wettingBell'spalsyBirdflu(avianinfluenza)BladderstonesBlastocystishominisBonecancerBonespursBreastcancerBrokenankleBrokenarmBrokencollarboneBrokenfootBrokenhandBrokenlegBrokennoseBrokenribsBrokenwristBrucellosisBulimianervosaBunionsBursitisCarcinoidtumorsCarpaltunnelsyndromeCastlemandiseaseCavities/toothdecayCervicalspondylosisChronicexertionalcompartmentsyndromeChurg-StrausssyndromeClubfootColicColoncancerComplexregionalpainsyndromeConstipationConstipationinchildrenCraniopharyngiomaCraniosynostosisCroupCysticfibrosisCystitisDiffuseidiopathicskeletalhyperostosis(DISH)DislocatedelbowDislocatedshoulderDrysocketDwarfismDysphagiaEncopresisEnlargedspleen(splenomegaly)EpiglottitisEsophagealcancerEsophagealspasmsFeverFibrousdysplasiaFlatfeetFootdropFrostbiteFrozenshoulderFunctionalneurologicdisorders/conversiondisorderGanglioncystGangreneGastritisGastroesophagealrefluxdisease(GERD)GlomerulonephritisGolfer'selbowGreenstickfracturesGrowingpainsGrowthplatefracturesHamstringinjuryHeartburnHeatstrokeHerniateddiskHipdysplasiaHipfractureHiplabraltearHirschsprung'sdiseaseHodgkin'slymphoma(Hodgkin'sdisease)HornersyndromeHyperparathyroidismHypoparathyroidismImpactedwisdomteethIndigestionInfantrefluxInflammatoryboweldisease(IBD)IntestinalobstructionIntussusceptionInvasivelobularcarcinomaIritisJuvenileidiopathicarthritisKneebursitisKyphosisLegg-Calve-PerthesdiseaseLungcancerLupusMalebreastcancerMeningitisMeralgiaparestheticaMetatarsalgiaMorton'sneuromaMouthcancerMultiplemyelomaNeckpainNeuroblastomaNon-Hodgkin'slymphomaOsgood-SchlatterdiseaseOsteoarthritisOsteochondritisdissecansOsteomalaciaOsteomyelitisPaget'sdiseaseofbonePaget'sdiseaseofthebreastPatellartendinitisPatellofemoralpainsyndromePepticulcerPeyronie'sdiseasePlantarfasciitisPosteriorcruciateligamentinjuryPosteriorvaginalprolapse(rectocele)PrecociouspubertyPseudomembranouscolitisPsoriaticarthritisPulmonaryatresiaPulmonaryatresiawithintactventricularseptumPulmonaryatresiawithventricularseptumdefectPyloricstenosisReactivearthritisRecurrentbreastcancerResiduallimbpainRicketsRotatorcuffinjurySacroiliitisSarcoidosisSciaticaScoliosisSepsisSepticarthritisShakenbabysyndromeShinsplintsSpinalstenosisSprainedankleSprainsSticklersyndromeStressfracturesSwollenkneeTakayasu'sarteritisTapeworminfectionTendinitisTenniselbowThoracicoutletsyndromeThroatcancerThumbarthritisToothabscessTornmeniscusTularemiaUlcerativecolitisUmbilicalherniaVaginalcancerVasculardementiaVasculitisVocalcordparalysisWristpainShowmorerelatedinformation RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic RisksRadiationexposureSomepeopleworrythatX-raysaren'tsafebecauseradiationexposurecancausecellmutationsthatmayleadtocancer.Theamountofradiationyou'reexposedtoduringanX-raydependsonthetissueororganbeingexamined.Sensitivitytotheradiationdependsonyourage,withchildrenbeingmoresensitivethanadults. Generally,however,radiationexposurefromanX-rayislow,andthebenefitsfromthesetestsfaroutweightherisks. However,ifyouarepregnantorsuspectthatyoumaybepregnant,tellyourdoctorbeforehavinganX-ray.ThoughtheriskofmostdiagnosticX-raystoanunbornbabyissmall,yourdoctormayconsideranotherimagingtest,suchasultrasound. ContrastmediumInsomepeople,theinjectionofacontrastmediumcancausesideeffectssuchas: Afeelingofwarmthorflushing Ametallictaste Lightheadedness Nausea Itching Hives Rarely,severereactionstoacontractmediumoccur,including: Severelowbloodpressure Anaphylacticshock Cardiacarrest Howyouprepare X-rayimageofkidneystone Openpop-updialogbox Close X-rayimageofkidneystone X-rayimageofkidneystone ThisX-rayusingcontrastrevealsakidneystoneatthejunctionofthekidneyandthetubethatconnectsthekidneytothebladder(ureter). X-rayexam Openpop-updialogbox Close X-rayexam X-rayexam TheX-raytubeisfocusedontheabdomen.X-rayswillpassthroughthebodyandproduceanimageonthespecializedplatebelow. DifferenttypesofX-raysrequiredifferentpreparations.Askyourdoctorornursetoprovideyouwithspecificinstructions. WhattowearIngeneral,youundresswhateverpartofyourbodyneedsexamination.Youmaywearagownduringtheexam,dependingonwhichareaisbeingX-rayed.Youmayalsobeaskedtoremovejewelry,eyeglassesandanymetalobjectsbecausetheycanshowuponanX-ray. ContrastmaterialBeforesometypesofX-rays,you'regivenaliquidcalledcontrastmedium.Contrastmediums,suchasbariumandiodine,helpoutlineaspecificareaofyourbodyontheX-rayimage.Youmayswallowthecontrastmediumorreceiveitasaninjectionoranenema. WhatyoucanexpectDuringtheX-rayX-raysareperformedatdoctors'offices,dentists'offices,emergencyroomsandhospitals—whereveranX-raymachineisavailable.Themachineproducesasafelevelofradiationthatpassesthroughyourbodyandrecordsanimageonaspecializedplate.Youcan'tfeelanX-ray. Atechnologistpositionsyourbodytoobtainthenecessaryviews.Heorshemayusepillowsorsandbagstohelpyouholdtheposition.DuringtheX-rayexposure,youremainstillandsometimesholdyourbreathtoavoidmovingsothattheimagedoesn'tblur. AnX-rayproceduremaytakejustafewminutesforasimpleX-rayorlongerformore-involvedprocedures,suchasthoseusingacontrastmedium. Yourchild'sX-rayIfayoungchildishavinganX-ray,restraintsorothertechniquesmaybeusedtokeephimorherstill.Thesewon'tharmyourchildandwillpreventtheneedforarepeatprocedure,whichmaybenecessaryifthechildmovesduringtheX-rayexposure. Youmaybeallowedtoremainwithyourchildduringthetest.IfyouremainintheroomduringtheX-rayexposure,you'lllikelybeaskedtowearaleadaprontoshieldyoufromunnecessaryexposure. AftertheX-rayAfteranX-ray,yougenerallycanresumenormalactivities.RoutineX-raysusuallyhavenosideeffects.However,ifyou'reinjectedwithcontrastmediumbeforeyourX-rays,drinkplentyoffluidstohelpridyourbodyofit.Callyourdoctorifyouhavepain,swellingorrednessattheinjectionsite.Askyourdoctoraboutothersignsandsymptomstowatchfor. ResultsX-raysaresaveddigitallyoncomputers,whichcanbeviewedon-screenwithinminutes.Aradiologisttypicallyviewsandinterpretstheresultsandsendsareporttoyourdoctor,whothenexplainstheresultstoyou.Inanemergency,yourX-rayresultscanbemadeavailabletoyourdoctorinminutes. ByMayoClinicStaff RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Doctors&Departments Feb.05,2020 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences X-rays.NationalInstituteofBiomedicalImagingandBioengineering(NIBIB).https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/x-rays.AccessedDec.7,2019. BoneX-ray(radiography).RadiologicalSocietyofNorthAmerica.https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=bonerad.AccessedDec.7,2019. Patientsafety:Contrastmaterials.RadiologicalSocietyofNorthAmerica.https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=safety-contrast.AccessedDec.7,2019. PanoramicdentalX-ray.RadiologicalSocietyofNorthAmerica.https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=panoramic-xray.AccessedDec.7,2019. Bonemassmeasurement:Whatthenumbersmean.NIHOsteoporosisandRelatedBoneDiseasesNationalResourceCenter.https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/bone-health/bone-mass-measure.AccessedDec.7,2019. LeeCI,etal.Radiation-relatedrisksofimagingstudies.https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search.AccessedDec.7,2019. X-ray(radiography)—Chest.RadiologicalSocietyofNorthAmerica.https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=chestrad.AccessedDec.7,2019. Mammograms.NationalCancerInstitute.https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/mammograms-fact-sheet.AccessedDec.7,2019. Children's(pediatric)X-ray(radiography).RadiologicalSocietyofNorthAmerica.https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=pediatric-xray.AccessedDec.7,2019. ZitelliBJ,etal.,eds.Fundamentalsofpediatricradiology.ZitelliandDavis'AtlasofPediatricPhysicalDiagnosis.7thed.Elsevier;2018.https://www.clinicalkey.com.AccessedDec.7,2019. LitinSC(expertopinion).MayoClinic.Dec.8,2019. Related Acanthosisnigricans ACLinjury Acutecoronarysyndrome Acutelymphocyticleukemia AdultStill'sdisease Ambiguousgenitalia Analcancer Ankylosingspondylitis Anorexianervosa Arthritis Ascariasis Aspergillosis Asthma Atrialfibrillation Atrialseptaldefect(ASD) Avascularnecrosis Backpain Bed-wetting Bell'spalsy Birdflu(avianinfluenza) Bladderstones Blastocystishominis Bonecancer Bonemetastasis Bonespurs Breastcancer Brokenankle Brokenarm Brokencollarbone Brokenfoot Brokenhand Brokenleg Brokennose Brokenribs Brokenwrist Brucellosis Bulimianervosa Bunions Bursitis Cancer Carcinoidtumors Carpaltunnelsyndrome Castlemandisease Cavities/toothdecay Cervicalcancer Cervicalspondylosis ChestX-ray Chroniccough Chronicexertionalcompartmentsyndrome Chronicpelvicpaininwomen Churg-Strausssyndrome Clubfoot Colic Coloncancer Complexregionalpainsyndrome Constipation Constipationinchildren Craniopharyngioma Craniosynostosis Croup Cysticfibrosis Cystitis Diffuseidiopathicskeletalhyperostosis(DISH) Dislocatedelbow Dislocatedshoulder Drysocket Dwarfism Dysphagia Encopresis Enlargedspleen(splenomegaly) Epiglottitis Esophagealcancer Esophagealspasms Fever Fibrousdysplasia Flatfeet Footdrop Frostbite Frozenshoulder Functionalneurologicdisorders/conversiondisorder Ganglioncyst Gangrene Gastritis Gastroesophagealrefluxdisease(GERD) Glomerulonephritis Golfer'selbow Greenstickfractures Growingpains Growthplatefractures Hamstringinjury Heartburn Heatstroke Herniateddisk Hipdysplasia Hipfracture Hiplabraltear Hirschsprung'sdisease Hodgkin'slymphoma(Hodgkin'sdisease) Hornersyndrome Hyperparathyroidism Hypoparathyroidism Impactedwisdomteeth Indigestion Infantreflux Inflammatoryboweldisease(IBD) Intestinalobstruction Intussusception Invasivelobularcarcinoma Iritis Juvenileidiopathicarthritis Kneearthritis Kneebursitis Kyphosis Legg-Calve-Perthesdisease Lungcancer Lupus Malebreastcancer Meningitis Meralgiaparesthetica Metatarsalgia Monoclonalgammopathyofundeterminedsignificance(MGUS) Morton'sneuroma Mouthcancer Multiplemyeloma Nasopharyngealcarcinoma Neckpain Neuroblastoma Neurofibromatosis Non-Hodgkin'slymphoma Osgood-Schlatterdisease Osteoarthritis Osteochondritisdissecans Osteomalacia Osteomyelitis Paget'sdiseaseofbone Paget'sdiseaseofthebreast Patellartendinitis Patellofemoralpainsyndrome Pepticulcer Peritonitis Peyronie'sdisease Plantarfasciitis Posteriorcruciateligamentinjury Posteriorvaginalprolapse(rectocele) Precociouspuberty Pseudogout Pseudomembranouscolitis Psoriaticarthritis Pulmonaryatresia Pulmonaryatresiawithintactventricularseptum Pulmonaryatresiawithventricularseptumdefect Pyloricstenosis Reactivearthritis Recurrentbreastcancer Residuallimbpain Rheumatoidarthritis Rickets Rotatorcuffinjury Sacroiliitis Sarcoidosis Sciatica Scoliosis Sepsis Septicarthritis Shakenbabysyndrome Shinsplints Snoring Softtissuesarcoma Spinalcordinjury Spinalstenosis Spontaneouscoronaryarterydissection(SCAD) Sprainedankle Sprains Sticklersyndrome Stressfractures Swollenknee Takayasu'sarteritis Tapeworminfection Tendinitis Tenniselbow Thoracicoutletsyndrome Throatcancer Thumbarthritis TMJdisorders Toothabscess Tornmeniscus Tularemia Ulcerativecolitis Umbilicalhernia Vaginalcancer Vasculardementia Vasculitis Vocalcordparalysis Whiplash Wristpain X-rayduringpregnancy X-rayexam X-rayimageofkidneystone X-rayofswallowedjack Showmorerelatedcontent Products&Services Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic X-rayAboutDoctors&Departments Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. NEW–CookWell,EatLessFREEMayoClinicDietAssessmentMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbookLiveYoungerLongerBackandNeckHealth PRC-20395288 PatientCare&HealthInformation Tests&Procedures X-ray