What Is An X-Ray?
X-rays are images that allow a medical practitioner to see what’s going on inside the body. Traditional X-ray images are created on photographic film, which is then developed to present a contrasted picture of a section of the body, such as the lung or foot, for example. X-ray usage allows a doctor or practitioner to determine the cause of a problem.
In the case of digital X-rays or digital radiography, the images are captured on digital X-ray sensors rather than on photographic film. This saves us the time required for chemical processing of traditional X-rays. It also allows digital transfer and enhancement of the images to give us a more detailed and accurate view.
Radiography is a quick, painless process that passes X-ray beams through the body to reveal images. The appearance of the images captured is based on the density of the materials the beams pass through. For example, bones that are dense by nature show up as white. The air in the lungs shows up much darker. Muscles and fat appear as shades of gray.
UCA is staffed by a local expert radiologists trained to recognize the variations in images and any abnormalities they portray. The results are then used by your medical examiner to determine the best course of treatment.
Aside from the specifications of digital and conventional X-rays, these images are often classified in other ways, such as dental X-rays for examining the teeth and oral cavity; bone or foot X-rays to look for breaks, fractures, or other abnormalities; and chest or lung X-rays to determine conditions such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. Mammograms, too, are a specialized version of X-rays that capture images of breast tissue. In most cases, however, digital and traditional X-rays are simply classified according to the area of the body they capture, such as an arm, hand, or foot X-ray.
X-rays, particularly digital radiographs, provide a clear view of the denser material inside the body. For evaluation of less-dense areas such as joints, muscles, and tendons, an MRI may be required. Or, for more complicated trauma cases, a CT or CAT scan may be needed to clearly show details too difficult to see on an X-ray.
If you have an injury or illness that may require an X-ray, our medical staff can give you the care you need quickly, efficiently, and affordably. We’ll provide the evaluation, services, and any prescriptions you need to get you back to your everyday life in no time.
- If you are interested in proceeding with an X-Ray, contact us and request an appointment, we will schedule this promptly.
- Contact us at +297-586-0448 or at [email protected].
Available hours of our X-Ray services:
Monday – Friday: 8am to 12:30pm, 2pm to 5pm
Saturday: 8am to 12pm