Understanding X-Rays and Their Use in Diagnostic Medicine

X-rays have been a mainstay of medical diagnostics since the technology was first developed in the late 19th century. What are X-rays, how do they work, and why are they so widely used? Here is a short guide for understanding X-rays, from the science behind them to the potential health and safety risks they involve.

What Are Medical X-Rays?

X-rays are a specific form of electromagnetic radiation. Although they are similar to light, they have the capacity to pass through most objects, including human bodies. Visible light does not have that ability. In medicine, x-rays are used to generate images of the inside of the human body. X-rays are passed through a patient’s body and then through an X-ray detector on the other side. An image then forms that could be likened to shadows formed by the objects – tissues, organs and other structures – inside the body. In this way, a kind of photograph is produced, which a medical practitioner can then inspect for signs of damage or disease.

What Are X-Rays Used For?

X-rays have two main use cases in medicine: diagnostics and therapy. In diagnostics, x-rays are used to detect broken bones, tumours and other abnormal masses, visible signs of diseases such as pneumonia, calcification, or foreign objects. Some of the most common forms of X-ray diagnostic technology include computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy. CT combines X-rays with computer processing to create cross-sectional images of the body, which can later be used to create a three-dimensional X-ray image. These are clearer and provide more details than plain radiographs.

Fluoroscopy generates real-time images of movement within the body by using X-rays and a fluorescent screen. Fluoroscopy can be used to watch and inspect the beating of the heart and view the flow of blood through blood vessels and organs.

As a therapeutic tool, X-rays can be used to treat cancer. This particular form of X-ray technology is called radiation therapy. Cancerous tumours are bombarded with X-rays, damaging their DNA, and thus destroying them.

How Do Medical X-Rays Work?

To create an X-ray image, a patient is positioned between an X-ray source and an X-ray detector. The X-rays travel into the body and are absorbed by the different tissues and structures in the body. Different tissues and structures absorb X-rays to different extents. For example, bones, being dense and containing a lot of calcium, absorb X-rays more readily than other tissues. As a result, they produce a high-contrast X-ray image on the X-ray detector. The rays then pass through the body and onto the X-ray detector, where a visible image is produced and printed.

Health And Safety Risks of X Rays

Since X-rays produce ionizing radiation, which can cause harm to living tissue. Generally speaking, infrequent, brief exposures to X-rays will not cause any significant harm. The risk of tissue damage increases with the frequency and duration of exposure. However, the level of risk is quite low, since most people will only be exposed to X-rays for a few minutes on very rare occasions. The diagnostic benefits far outweigh the potential risks.

If you need X-rays in Ontario, WELL Health Diagnostic Centres are well equipped to help. We provide quick, precise, walk-in X-ray examinations for a wide variety of applications and conditions. You will need a referral from your healthcare provider. Then, locate your nearest Well Health Diagnostic Centre to make an appointment.