X-ray Modalities & Studies Covered
Organ-based X-ray scans
Find below the organ based X-ray scan that we covered
Lungs
X-rays can be used to visualize lung fields, bronchi, alveolar spaces, and pleura. A number of complications could cause several pleural conditions. These complications include reduced or increased aeration, segmental or lobar collapse, pleural fluid accumulation, abnormal extrapulmonary air, distorted bronchovascular markings, and asymmetrical expansion. X-rays allow the differentiation of air, fluid, and soft tissue densities to show lung translucency, volume changes, pleural interfaces, and symmetry of expansion.
Heart
The human heart is an important organ of the circulatory system. It is made up of the chambers, valves, coronary arteries, and surrounding pericardium. The heart is prone to several abnormalities, which include enlarged cardiac silhouette, altered contour, abnormal axis or position, displacement by adjacent structures, and obscured cardiomediastinal borders. Using X-ray radiography, physicians can assess heart size, shape, position, and mediastinal relationships.
Bones
Bones provide structural stability to the human body and also work in tandem with muscles, ligaments, and joints. Typical problems of bone are characterized by cortical discontinuity, altered density, angulation, deformity, joint incongruity, and abnormal trabecular pattern. Bone is one of the hard tissues in the body that can be clearly visualized in X-rays. Using this technique, cortical margins, internal architecture, alignment, and joint relationships are evaluated.
Spine
The spine is an important organ of the central nervous system. It is primarily made up of bones and thus can be efficiently observed using X-rays. The spine can undergo loss of vertebral height, abnormal curvature, misalignment, altered intervertebral spacing, and vertebral body deformity. Using X-ray imaging, radiologists can observe vertebral alignment, body height, curvature, and disc space relationships in multiple projections.
X-ray Subspecialties
X-ray can be further subdivided into the following subspecialties:
Musculoskeletal Radiography
Musculoskeletal X-rays are used to observe bones, joints, and supporting structures. Under musculoskeletal X-rays, there are extremity X-rays, joint-specific views, weight-bearing studies, and stress views. Using this subspecialty, cortical continuity, trabecular patterns, bone density, alignment, angulation, joint spaces, articular surfaces, and skeletal symmetry can be assessed.
Chest Radiography
Chest X-rays focus on lungs, pleura, airways, heart silhouette, and mediastinum. The chest X-rays are further subdivided into posteroanterior (PA), anteroposterior (AP), lateral, and expiratory types. The subspecialties are effective in the visualization of lung aeration, symmetry of lung fields, pleural interfaces, mediastinal contours, cardiac size and position, rib cage integrity, and diaphragmatic shape and movement.
Abdominal Radiography
Abdominal radiography is used to observe pathologies in the organs of the abdominal cavities. Under abdominal radiography, there are several subtypes, which include supine, erect, and decubitus views. Using these different subtypes of abdominal radiology techniques, gas distribution, bowel loop position and diameter, air-fluid levels, organ displacement, and the presence of air in abnormal compartments can be observed.
