Since Röntgen's discovery that X-rays can identify bony structures, X-rays have been developed for their use in medical imaging.
A photographic plate or film is used in hospitals to produce images of the internal organs and bones of a patient. Since photographic plates are not generally sensitive to X-rays, phosphorescent screens are usually placed in contact with the emulsion of the plate or film. The x-rays strike the phosphor screen, which emits visible light, which exposes the film. The emulsion still needs to be heavily doped with silver compounds and can be coated on both sides of the film or plate. The part of the patient to be X-rayed is placed between the X-ray source and the photographic receptor to produce what is a shadow of all the internal structure of that particular part of the body being X-rayed. The X-rays are blocked by dense tissues such as bone and pass through soft tissues. Those areas where the X-rays strike the photographic receptor turn black when it is developed.
So where the X-rays pass through "soft" parts of the body such as organs, muscle, and skin, the plate or film turns black.
Contrast compounds containing barium or iodine, which are radiopaque, can be injected in the artery of a particular organ, or given intravenously. The contrast compounds essentially block the X-rays and hence the circulation of the organ can be more readily seen.
X-rays are especially useful in the detection of pathology of the skeletal system, but are also useful for detecting some disease processes in soft tissue. Some notable examples are the very common chest X-ray, which can be used to identify lung diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer or pulmonary edema, and the abdominal X-ray, which can detect ileus (blockage of the intestine), free air (from visceral perforations) and free fluid (in ascites).
X-rays are also used in "real-time" procedures such as angiography or contrast studies of the hollow organs (e.g. barium enema of the small or large intestine) using fluoroscopy acquired using an X-ray image intensifier. Angioplasty, medical interventions of the arterial system, rely heavily on X-ray-sensitive contrast to identify potentially treatable lesions.
Imaging alternatives for soft tissues are computed axial tomography (CAT or CT scanning), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound.
Featured providers of private x-rays
You can find out more about the following providers of x-rays to UK patients on the Private Healthcare UK site:
Nuffield Diagnostics
Nuffield Diagnostics is a nationwide diagnostic imaging service based in 31 locations offering tests and scans. They are part of Nuffield Hospitals, Britain’s longest standing not-for-profit group of independent hospitals, with a 50–year history of caring for patients and working alongside the NHS.
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108 X-ray and Imaging
108 X-Ray offers efficient modern and personalised rapid diagnostic breast imaging using digital mammography and ultrasound. They also offer a full range of plain film investigations, general ultrasound including abdominal, gynaecological and small part imaging.
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