X-ray

For a general X-ray, avoid wearing any jewelry and clothing with metal. Choose loose fitting clothing. Metal will make reading your images harder and could hide important information.

For all fluoroscopic procedures, please see the tabs below for further information.

Your exam will be performed by a registered medical radiation technologist (MRT). MRTs are responsible for using advanced imaging and radiation techniques to provide accurate diagnostic information for your care. As both technical experts and frontline caregivers, they play a critical role in patient care, advocacy, and clinical decision-making. Click here to learn more about MRTs!

A radiologist will review all of your imaging and provide a report to your referring healthcare provider. Radiologists are highly specialized physicians who play a pivotal role in diagnosing and monitoring diseases and injuries through advanced medical imaging. Their expertise is essential in guiding treatment decisions and ensuring optimal patient outcomes.

The amount of radiation you receive from a single X-ray is very low. While there are small risks with any exposure, our medical radiation technologists (MRTs) are trained to keep radiation exposure to a minimum while ensuring the best diagnostic accuracy.

If you are pregnant or think you might be, you must inform the referring healthcare provider and MRT before having any X-rays.

Fluoroscopy, often simply called "fluoro," is an imaging method that utilizes x-rays to capture real-time, moving images inside the body. Special procedures such as Upper GI’s, pain management injections and hysterosalpingograms are performed under fluoro.

Contrast dye is a substance used during certain X-ray procedures to enhance the visibility of specific areas within the body, such as joints and organs. This allows radiologists to better assess the structure, integrity, and function of the area being examined.

There are different types of contrast agents used depending on the clinical history and diagnostic question:

• Oral Contrast Agents: These are ingested by the patient and are commonly used to enhance imaging of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the stomach and intestines.
• Iodine-Based Contrast Agents: These substances are often introduced into areas such as the uterus, bladder, or joints to help enhance the clarity and detail of internal structures during imaging
  

Please click here for more information on contrast agents.

An Upper GI Barium Swallow is a test that uses fluoroscopy - a special type of real-time X-ray - along with a barium contrast material to take detailed images of your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. This test can help diagnose issues such as abdominal discomfort, acid reflux or heartburn, trouble swallowing and other digestive symptoms.

Preparation:

• Do not eat, drink, or chew gum after midnight the night before your appointment.

• Wear comfortable clothing. You may be asked to change into a hospital gown.

• Let your provider know if you are pregnant, or have had previous surgeries involving your digestive system.

During the Exam:

• You’ll be given a barium drink, a thick, chalky liquid that coats your digestive tract, so it shows up clearly on X-rays.

• You’ll stand or lie on a special X-ray table while a radiologist guides you on how to move to help capture images from different angles.

• The fluoroscopy camera takes real-time images as the barium moves through your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.

• The procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.

After the Exam:

• You can return to normal activities right after the test.

• Your stool may be white or lighter in color for a day or two due to the barium.

• The barium used during the procedure can lead to constipation. To help prevent this, drink plenty of fluids for the next 24 to 48 hours.
  
• The barium you drank may stay in your system for a short time and could appear on other imaging tests. If you need another imaging test soon, please let the healthcare team know you’ve recently had a barium exam.

Image-guided joint injections are a minimally invasive treatment used to help manage joint pain and improve your mobility. Using medical imaging, a healthcare provider can precisely guide the injection into the affected joint.

These injections may be done for therapeutic purposes, to provide pain relief, or for diagnostic reasons, to help determine if a specific joint is the source of your discomfort.

Types of Image-Guided Injections:

• Joint Injections: Injections into joints to treat pain & inflammation, often using corticosteroids or other medications. Joints typically injected using imaging guidance include shoulders and hips, but other joints can be performed as well. 

• Spinal Injections: Injections into the spine to treat pain and nerve issues.

What to expect:

• Prior to your appointment, a CGMH patient service representative will inform you of any necessary exam preparations.

• Your referring healthcare provider will prescribe medication for the procedure. Have your prescription filled at your pharmacy and bring the medication with you on the day of your appointment. Please note, injection medication is not provided by CGMH.

• If you are taking blood thinners, your healthcare provider may advise you to stop taking them for a few days before your procedure.

• The procedure is performed using sterile technique. The radiologist will clean the skin with antiseptic solution, and local anesthetic may be used to numb the area near the joint. A needle will then be inserted into the joint, followed by a small amount of X-ray dye to confirm correct placement. Once confirmed, the cortisone is injected. Most patients feel little to no discomfort, though some may experience mild pressure or temporary discomfort.

• The procedure typically takes less than 30 minutes.

• You may feel relief within a few days, depending on your body’s response.

• It is advisable to refrain from strenuous activities for 24 to 48 hours.

A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is a special type of fluoroscopy procedure used to visualize a woman’s uterus and fallopian tubes. It's often done as part of an evaluation for infertility or recurrent miscarriages.

What to expect:

• The procedure is scheduled after your period but before ovulation – typically around days 6–11 of your menstrual cycle.

• You will be positioned on the exam table similar to a gynecological exam. A gynecologist will insert a speculum to view the cervix, then place a thin catheter just past the cervix. A contrast dye is slowly injected through the catheter, and X-rays are taken as the dye moves through the uterus and fallopian tubes.

• Spotting and mild cramping are common during and after the procedure.