About X-ray Exams

What Is an X-ray?

X-rays are the oldest and most frequently used form of medical imaging. An x-ray is a picture that results from a small dose of radiation passing through the body and striking a film/plate on the other side. This picture allows your doctor to examine your bones or organs. The test is safe, quick and painless. The type of x-ray you have will depend upon the area to be imaged and the reason your doctor requested the x-ray.

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center uses state-of-the-art x-ray equipment. The images generated provide important information to assist your physician in diagnosing your medical condition and/or planning your course of treatment.

Common Uses

X-rays can be performed on many parts of the body, including the head, chest, abdomen, pelvis, vital organs, joints and bones of the upper and lower extremities. They are useful in detecting problems with the skeletal system, as well as some disease processes of the soft tissue.

Safety

All of our equipment is maintained by highly trained service engineers and meets or exceeds the operating specifications set forth by the manufacturers and the federal government. 

If you are pregnant or think you might be, please tell the staff before the test. As with other medical procedures, x-rays are safe when used with care. Radiologists and x-ray technologists have been trained to use the minimum amount of radiation necessary to obtain the needed results. The amount of radiation used in most examinations is very small and the benefits greatly outweigh the risk of harm.

Pediatric Patients

Experienced radiologists and technologists dedicated to imaging pediatric patients utilize state of the art equipment and pediatric specific protocols.