When is an x-ray necessary?

X-rays are used to confirm and assist healthcare practitioners to make a diagnosis and to inform care decisions.

X-rays are used:

• to detect injury to bones such as fractures
• to identify bone deformities
• verify healing of bones
• verify healing after surgical implants such as knee and hip replacements
• verify placement of other medical devices such as implantable pumps and catheters
• sinus x-rays to detect infection

X-rays are also used to identify conditions related to some of the more dense tissues in our body:

• lungs (pneumonia, bronchitis, foreign body)
• intestines (obstruction, or presence of air in the bowel)
• gall stones
• kidney stones

Your healthcare practitioner will determine if x-rays are warranted. For example, a diagnosis of a sinus infection may be based on your symptoms; negating the need for an x-ray.