X - rays are one of the most common methods of examining the chest. With the help of it, doctors can detect serious pathologies that develop in the tissues, and because of this, this procedure is carried out quite often.
Surely everyone remembers how to get a certificate of recovery after SARS, the doctor prescribes an X-ray. He does this to determine the presence or absence of bronchitis, pneumonia and other inflammatory processes in the lung tissue. However, ARVI is the most harmless reason for resorting to radiography, because the X-ray radiographic research reveals not only pneumonia, bronchitis, but also tuberculosis , cancer and other serious illnesses.
Nowadays, x-ray of lungs at home, which allows obtaining similar data, as well as in hospital conditions, is gaining popularity, without leaving home. This is important for elderly and bedridden patients.
How does X-ray work and is it safe?
Unfortunately, radiography is not the safest and most healthy method of examination, because ionizing radiation is used here. Its strength is determined by the ionization of dry atmospheric air, and for a person with x-ray there is a certain dose of radiation equal to 0.3 millisievert, if a film method is used, and for a digital one, 0.03 millisievert.
Thus, with the possibility of choice, it is worthwhile to conduct digital X-rays - especially for children and people with autoimmune diseases.
If a regular examination is necessary, the time intervals between the X-ray of the lungs should be observed - at least 14 days should pass between them. However, for medical reasons, this period can be shortened.
When the x-ray is carried out and there is a picture on the hands, the doctor pays attention to the following parameters:
- the structure of visible bones - they must be white and translucent in the image;
- structure of soft tissues - should also be absent, the overall structure is even;
- location and structure of the roots of the lungs;
- the position of the diaphragm domes;
- position of the sinuses of the pleural regions.
In addition, the doctor must take into account the so-called pulmonary pattern, formed by the vessels and the size of the shadow of the mediastinum.
What does X-ray show?
It is not necessary to place high hopes, as well as underestimate the radiography: it can actually detect serious damage to tissues and bones (X-rays are most often diagnosed with pneumonia ), but cases of false negative result are quite frequent.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that diseases are prone to development, and if you take a picture at the initial stages of the lesion, it can be overlooked or mistaken for a lumen error.
Lung cancer on the X-ray photograph is marked as a zone with reduced transparency and pronounced vascular pattern. This is characteristic of central lung cancer. With the peripheral form of cancer, a dark spot with even edges is found on the film, in some cases branch off from it leading to the root of the lung. This indicates inflammation of the lymphatic vessels.
X-ray of lungs with pneumonia shows a slightly different picture, although pneumonia sometimes becomes a consequence of lung cancer: in this case, the lung will be marked with a tightened segment with a reduced volume. When the bronchi are blocked in the picture, a blackout occurs.
X-ray of lungs with tuberculosis shows an expansion of the shadow of the vessels and bronchi - in the area of lesion, blurriness, heterogeneity of the structure is noted. Also, the picture shows calcinates.
What to choose - an x-ray or a roentgenography of lungs?
The spots in the lungs on the X-ray are a clear sign of problems in the body, however, cases where premature conclusions do not justify themselves are not uncommon - for example, even with obscurations, a person as a result
To clarify the diagnosis also conducted:
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
- computed tomography (CT);
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET);
- antigraphy, etc.