Medical Services > Radiology Services > Diagnostic Radiology > Radiography

Radiography

What is radiography?
Radiography is the term for a general x-ray exam that captures clear, precise images using radiation.

Radiation, a form of energy, exists in nature and emanates from the atmosphere and earth. As with many naturally-occurring substances, radiation, in moderation, is considered harmless.

X-ray beams can pass through the human body. When they strike a detector, they produce a picture.

Traditional film-based exams have been replaced by digital imaging in many cases. Digital radiography requires no film processing. Test results can be viewed seconds after the exposure is made.

Why do I need an x-ray?
X-rays help to diagnose a wide variety of conditions including bone injuries, infections, arthritis and cancer. A doctor can get a detailed view of the spine, fingers, toes, abdomen, urinary tract, gastrointestinal system, chest, ribs, skull, sinuses, facial bones and other specific areas of the body.

What to Expect
Depending on the part of the body being x-rayed, the patient may be asked to lie on a table, sit, or stand while the images are taken. The patient will be given a lead apron to wear for protection of parts of the body that are not to be x-rayed.

Some types of x-ray exams require the use of a “contrast medium” that is either injected or taken orally in order to allow the doctor to see inside blood vessels or the urinary tract.

The exam usually takes 10-45 minutes to complete.

Women who are, or may be, pregnant or are breastfeeding, must alert their doctor and the technologist if they are being scheduled for an x-ray procedure.

X-rays are among Greenwich Hospital’s broad range of diagnostic and interventional radiology services.

Radiology services are generally pain-free, non-invasive and available to both outpatients and inpatients.