X-rays help providers visualize the inside of your body. The tissues in the body have different densities which affects how much radiation they absorb. This variance produces a grayscale image that allows physicians to distinguish between different anatomical structures.
X-rays are a type of high-energy electromagnetic radiation that produce an image of our internal anatomy. They are best adapted for visualizing structures that absorb different amounts of radiation. Structures that absorb more x-rays will appear white (e.g. bone), whereas structures that absorb less x-rays will appear darker (e.g. soft tissue).
Why X-rays?
X-rays are useful for visualizing soft tissues against air, or tumors that have invaded bone. Patients with head and neck cancer often undergo x-rays to identify lung metastasis, or spread, as a lung nodule shows up clearly on an x-ray. For this reason, your doctor may recommend an annual chest x-ray if you have a history of head and neck cancer.
What to Expect
X-ray imaging can be done wherever an x-ray machine is available. This could be at your doctor’s office or in a hospital. You will lie on a table or stand against a wall while the images are created. The technician will likely step out of the room and turn on the x-ray machine from behind a protective wall to avoid radiation exposure which, although relatively low in x-ray, can be damaging in high doses. When the technician takes the pictures, you will not feel anything, and the process will take just a few moments.
Advantages
X-ray imaging is non-invasive, inexpensive, and performed quickly and easily. X-rays are a painless procedure for patients.
Disadvantages
Drawbacks of X-ray imaging include limited ability to detect abnormalities in certain types of tissue and the patient’s exposure to a small amount of radiation. To reduce a patient’s exposure to radiation, a lead apron is provided to cover the parts of the body not pertinent for the X-ray.
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