For Patients: Medical Imaging Safety Medical X-rays are used in
many types of examinations and procedures. Some examples include
- X-ray radiography (to find orthopedic damage, tumors,
pneumonias, foreign objects, etc); - Mammography (to image the
internal structures of breasts) - CT (computed tomography) (to
produce cross-sectional images of the body) - Fluoroscopy (to
dynamically visualize the body for example to see where to
remove plaque from coronary arteries or where to place stents to
keep those arteries open) - Radiation therapy in cancer
treatment. In addition, many industries and institutions use
X-rays: - To examine constructed materials. - To conduct sample
analyses. - For security purposes such as baggage screening.
Risks of X-Rays X-rays can help detect diseases and health
conditions but they also have a small potential to harm living
tissue. The most significant risks are: - A small increase in
the possibility that a person exposed to X-rays will develop
cancer later in life; and - Cataracts an