When it comes to medical imaging, X-rays are a safe, noninvasive way of creating images of bones and internal organs. X-rays are the most common type of medical imaging procedure. X-rays are used to diagnose conditions like broken bones or injuries, or to treat diseases such as osteoporosis or cancer.
X-rays are made by placing the patient between an imaging device and a beam of invisible radiation. The radiographer then controls the process to take a series of pictures. Some types of x-rays use contrast dye to improve the contrast of the pictures. If you are concerned about the amount of radiation, talk to your doctor.
Among Ontario outpatients with a periodic health examination (PHE), a chest x-ray is not commonly ordered. However, the likelihood of having one as part of a PHE is increasing. One study suggests that family physicians in the province are following the recommendations and ordering low-frequency x-rays for patients who are not at high risk for chest disorders. Nevertheless, further research is needed.
As part of the study, the authors examined the frequency of routine chest x-rays being ordered by family physicians in Ontario. They found that while the overall mean rate was 2.42%, the frequency of a chest x-ray ordered as part of a PHE ranged from 2% to 4.4%. In addition, the x-axis was divided into quartiles according to the physician CXR ordering rate.
A review of studies on the effectiveness of X-rays revealed that the use of this procedure has led to a significant reduction in breast cancer deaths in women. Studies also indicate that mammograms can be a useful tool in early detection of breast cancer, and that a mammogram can be helpful in detecting breast disease in women who do not have symptoms. While these studies suggest that mammograms are a good way to detect breast cancer, further investigations are necessary to determine their value in a number of circumstances.
The study included 2 847 508 PHEs. Of these, 2.42% of the examinations followed by a chest x-ray were ordered by a family physician. Interestingly, examinations followed by a routine chest x-ray were more likely to involve male physicians than female physicians. This X-ray Toronto may be due to gender differences in the incidence of respiratory and cardiac diseases. Moreover, female outpatients in the ten to fifty-five age range are generally not given x-rays.
There is a small risk that the radiation from an x-ray could harm the patient. To avoid this, you should avoid taking metal objects with you to the x-ray, and be sure to tell the technician if you are pregnant. You should also inform your doctor if you have any other medical conditions that could affect the results of the x-ray.
Although there is no specific rule about what is considered to be the maximum possible dose of ionizing radiation, some estimates indicate that up to a hundred milligrams of ionizing radiation per hour can be safe. Hence, it is recommended that you only receive x-rays if your doctor recommends them.