Our ServicesGeneral X-ray

WHAT IS X-RAY
No doubt, many patients would like to know what is X-Ray. In this pamphlet, we would like to explain what X-ray is and what it is used for. Hopefully this will help you understand what you will be experiencing.

X-Ray was discovered in 1895. It is an electromagnetic radiation with a very short wavelength, measured in pilometers. It is beyond the range of human vision. It is produced by firing an electron on a metallic target usually made of tungsten.

X-Ray has been used widely in medical imaging because of its ability to pentrate many materials. The degree of penetration depends on the density of the specific material. As the human body has different densities, such as soft tissue and bone, the X-Ray passing through the body will produce a spectrum of grays on a photo - sensitive film forming an image (picture). This image will aid in the diagnosis of the medical problem and proper treatment can be prescribed. The more common use of X-Ray is in detection of fractures and chest problems. Recently, X-Ray has been utilized in minimal invasive surgery (interventional radiology).

For the examination of the digestive system, such as the large bowel, patient may be required to take laxatives to clean out the bowel. For X-Ray of the stomach and small bowel, patient will need to fast overnight. Any residual food material will hinder the accuracy of the examination.

In other examinations, such as intravenous pyelogram, the radiologist will inject contrast into the vein to show up the kidneys and collecting systems.

Is X-Ray Safe?
The X-Ray dosage in diagnostic procedures is far below the dosage that will cause damage. As a safety precaution, the radiographer will often use lead sheet to shield the gonads of children and adults of the reproductive age. The gonadal shield will limit the amount of external scattered radiation.

For those who have to assist the patient during a X-Ray examination, a lead apron will be provided.

To prevent the young fetus from exposed to unnecessary radiation, the radiographer will often ask a woman in child bearing age her last menstrual period. Generally, 28 days from the begining of the last menstural period is considered safe period for most X-ray exams. For high dose procedure, involving direct irradation of the genitals, the 10-day rule applies.

Services Offered by the Radiology Department
Besides radiographs, such as the chest, abdomen and bones , other examinations are also available. These include fluoroscopy, computed tomography, ultrasound, angiography, intravenous urography, mammography, bone mineral densitometry and magnetic resonance imaging. If you would like to know more about these services, please refer to the other pamphlets.