Radiography is a common imaging technique that uses X-rays to examine tissues, internal organs, and bones. It is a useful tool that can help your veterinarian diagnose and treat many medical conditions in pets.
How Does Radiography Work?
Radiography machines project a beam of X-rays, a form of electromagnetic radiation, onto a photographic plate. When radiographs are performed, your pet is placed on the machine between the X-ray beam and the plate. X-rays penetrate structures within the body differently, depending on their density. They pass easily through the air and soft tissue but are mostly absorbed by denser materials like bone.
X-rays that pass through the body interact with the photographic plate below, producing an image. Because X-rays are mostly absorbed by dense materials such as bone, these areas will appear white on the X-ray image. Less dense materials including muscle and tissue will appear as shades of gray, while air cavities will appear black as they are least dense.
Is Radiography Safe?
Radiography is noninvasive and painless. It is also considered very low risk since low doses of radiation are used to produce X-ray images. If your pet is very anxious or in a lot of pain, it may be difficult for your veterinarian to position them correctly in the X-ray machine. In these cases, sedation may be required to obtain high-quality radiographs.
Thorax Radiography
The thorax, or chest, is the area of the body between your pet’s neck and abdomen. Your veterinarian may perform thorax radiographs as part of a health screening test, to assess damage from trauma to the chest, or to investigate symptoms including breathing difficulties, coughing, and exercise intolerance.
Thorax radiographs can reveal abnormalities in the heart and lungs that may indicate underlying health conditions. These include heart enlargement, fluid in the lungs, or air in the chest cavity. Radiographs can also provide evidence of other abnormalities or injuries such as tumors, scar tissue, or fractures.
Thorax Radiography Procedure
Your veterinarian will prepare for thorax radiography by measuring your pet’s chest. They will then calibrate the radiography machine based on the measurements. Your pet will be placed on their side in the machine and X-rays will pass through them onto the photographic plate below. Usually, your veterinarian will move your pet in a second position and repeat the procedure so that images can be taken from a different angle
