What will show up on an x-ray?
A normal chest x-ray
X-rays can detect a variety of issues, including:
- Bones and joints: Fractures, dislocations, arthritis, bone spurs, bone cancer, bone growth, and birth defects
- Teeth: Cavities, decay, loose teeth, and dental abscesses
- Lungs: Pneumonia, lung cancer (a normal one doesn’t exclude it), chest injuries, collapsed lung
- Heart: Heart failure
- Spine: Scoliosis, abnormal curvature
Note. Not good for disc disease - Blood vessel problems – such as an aortic aneurysm (a bulge in the aorta)
- Cancer – such as bone cancer and breast cancer
- Blockages in your bowel
- To check the position – of wires, leads and tubes after a surgical procedure
- Other: Kidney stones, calcification, foreign objects (such as when a child accidentally swallows an object), and osteoporosis.
X-rays can also be used therapeutically to destroy cancerous tumors and cells. However, X-rays produce ionising radiation, which can potentially harm living tissue.
