I believe everyone has had some exposure to medical imaging, commonly known as "films". When you are undergoing a physical examination and disease screening, do you also feel confused with each "film". So, what is X-ray? How to do personal protection well? How to understand the results of chest X-ray examination? Below, I will explain to everyone.
What is "X-ray" examination? X-ray imaging technology is a very common imaging examination method in clinical practice. Due to differences in the density and thickness of human tissue structures, X-rays that penetrate the human body are absorbed to varying degrees, resulting in different effects of black and white contrast on the imaging medium caused by attenuation differences. X-ray examination is mainly used for preliminary examination of some diseases, facilitating the discovery of more obvious lesions in tissues and structures. It is the preferred examination method for disease screening and is also inexpensive.
What preparations need to be made before X-ray examination
Remove items worn on the imaging site, such as necklaces, watches, belts, women's underwear, sequins, beads, zippers, buttons, etc.
How should we take personal protective measures during the process of radiation diagnosis and treatment?
Patients should proactively inquire with their doctors and request to wear protective equipment during filming.
Pregnant women should avoid undergoing X-ray examinations as much as possible; If radiation examination is necessary, appropriate protective equipment should be worn to protect the fetus, as radiation has the risk of causing fetal malformation and increasing the risk of cancer in live births.
During radiation examinations, people of childbearing age and children should pay attention to genital protection, as radiation also has genetic effects.
Except for situations where family members must be accompanied and taken care of, family members generally do not stay in radiation facilities.
Patients receiving high-dose radioactive isotope therapy should follow medical advice and wait for the radioactive isotopes in their bodies to decay to a certain extent before leaving. Otherwise, they will become a mobile radiation source, causing unrelated personnel to be exposed to radiation.
How to understand the results of chest X-ray examination?
1. Increased lung texture
X-ray chest examination results show an increase in lung texture, indicating a radiating distribution from the hilum to the field of the lungs, resembling a tree branch, composed of pulmonary arteries, lymphatic vessels, bronchi, and pulmonary veins. In general, increased lung texture and thickening are common in elderly smokers, women during menstruation, pregnancy, and lactation, those who have undergone vigorous exercise, and young adults with strong blood gas. If there are no clinical symptoms of increased lung markings on the examination report, then most of them are physiological.
2. Calcification lesion
A high-density sediment resembling stones formed due to tuberculosis or inflammation, which can be displayed on chest X-ray examination. Usually there are no obvious special symptoms, it is generally painless and does not induce inflammation.
3. Thickening and adhesions of the pleura, inflammatory cellulose exudation, organized bleeding from trauma, and granulation tissue hyperplasia can all cause pleural thickening and adhesions, as well as related symptoms such as pleural effusion and pleurisy. If it is mild localized pleural thickening and adhesion, it usually occurs in the costophrenic angle area; If there is extensive pleural thickening and adhesion, the affected side of the chest will generally collapse, the intercostal space will become significantly narrower, and the density of the lung field will increase. A band like shadow of increased density can be seen along the lateral and posterior edges of the lung field. This is commonly seen in pneumothorax, purulent pleurisy, tuberculous pleurisy, diffuse interstitial tumors, trauma, etc.
In short, X-ray imaging is convenient, cost-effective, and costs around 100 yuan for single site X-rays, with a large imaging display range. The application scope of X-rays is limited: for example, in clinical practice, X-ray plain films are rarely used in the abdomen and are generally only used for the initial screening of acute abdomen and stones; How to scientifically and effectively utilize medical irradiation, to achieve both the diagnostic and therapeutic effects of medical irradiation and ensure the safety of patients and subjects, requires everyone's joint efforts.