X-Ray and Fluoroscopy

General Radiography uses X-rays to create still images of the inside of a patient’s body. These images are interpreted by doctors, known as radiologists, to detect and diagnose a variety of medical conditions. During the exam, the patient is positioned between the X-ray machine’s receptor and its X-ray tube. Once the machine generates X-rays, these pass through the body to produce an image of the specified body part — often the chest or extremities, like a hand or foot. Ideal for bones, X-rays also show many soft tissue structures.

Fluoroscopy uses X-rays to produce images of moving parts of the body. Beyond medical imaging, fluoroscopy is often used in operating rooms during surgical procedures. Two common procedures that rely on fluoroscopy include stomach X-rays, which require the patient to drink a Barium beverage, and joint injections, which require an injection of freezing (local anesthetic), X-ray dye, or medication.

Our hospitals performed over 122,000 X-ray and fluoroscopy procedures last year.