How Does An X-Ray Work?

Different Uses For X-Rays

There are lots of different uses in the medical field, but the two main ones are diagnostic and therapeutic. Diagnostic methods seek to diagnose a problem, while therapeutic methods seek to treat a problem. X-ray radiography is the most common form of x-ray and is used to detect abnormal masses, tumors, bone fractures, pneumonia, and foreign objects in the body. Mammography is a radiograph done of a breast to gauge whether a woman has breast cancer or not.

A CT scan is a combination of computer processing and traditional x-ray technology. This combination generates cross-sectional body images, which are then turned into a three-dimensional x-ray, as opposed to a conventional two-dimensional x-ray. Fluoroscopy is the use of a fluorescent screen and x-rays to receive images of real-time movement occurring inside the body. X-rays are also used in cancer treatment as a type of radiation therapy, where their high-energy radiation can destroy cancerous cells through damage to their DNA. Radiation doses for cancer treatments tend to be much higher than radiation doses for simple imaging.

Continue reading to learn about the safety of x-rays.