Why is fluorography needed?
The main objective of the method is mass screening: early detection of pulmonary tuberculosis and mass formations in people without complaints. It is recommended to undergo the examination once a year, and more often if there is an increased risk. The film-free format is suitable when the result is needed for personal control or for an organization that accepts a digital report: the doctor describes the image, and the patient receives a document with the result. It is important to understand: fluorography is screening with less detail than radiography. If changes are detected or if there are complaints, a full-fledged image in two projections is prescribed.
What does an x-ray show?
An X-ray image perfectly visualizes bone tissue and air environments: fractures and cracks, displacements, changes in joint spaces, bone growths, as well as lung tissue and its changes.
Soft tissues - ligaments, menisci, discs, cartilage - are practically invisible in the image. If the doctor suspects damage, an MRI or ultrasound is prescribed after the X-ray.
One projection or two
One projection gives a flat image, and pathology located at an unfortunate angle may go unnoticed. The second photograph, taken perpendicular to the first, eliminates this situation. In trauma, two views are the standard; shooting in one is used as screening or when the patient’s position is limited.
About radiation exposure
The dose for digital radiography is significantly lower than film and for most studies is comparable to several days of natural background radiation. However, the study is performed as prescribed by a doctor, and during pregnancy - only for health reasons with screening.