Understanding Normal X-ray Images: Shoulder, Hand, Knee, and Lung
Probably you have questions if your doctor has advised an X-ray. What does the scan look like? So what is a normal result? How is a normal reading different than one with an injury or disease? If you're getting directed to a shoulder X-ray, a normal hand X-ray for a work injury claim, comparing images for a normal knee X-ray, or a normal lung X-ray for a pre-employment physical, it helps to know the basics to make the whole ordeal less frightening. Why X-Rays Are Still the First Step in Diagnosis It is important to understand why doctors frequently opt for this test first, rather than more advanced imaging technologies such as MRI, before you get into the details of each type of X-ray. Speed – At a lot of walk-in imaging sites, there is no appointment necessary, and most X-rays take a few minutes to complete. Cost-effectiveness – X-rays are much less costly than MRI or CT, and are a more readily available first-line test. Bone and lung clarity — X-rays are outstanding at seein...