Benefits and Risks – Bone Radiography (X-Ray)

Benefits

• Radiography (X-ray) can detect the presence or absence of disease, foreign objects, and structural damage or anomalies early on.
• Radiography (X-ray) uses the lowest possible amount of radiation and produces the minimum number of images needed.
• The benefit of radiography far exceeds the small cancer risk associated with the procedure.

Risks

• Radiography (X-ray) is a type of x-ray procedure and carries the same types of risks as other x-ray procedures. The radiation dose the patient receives varies on the individual procedure.
• There is a small possibility of developing a radiation-induced cancer or cataracts some time later in life.
• Radiography (X-ray) can disturb the growth or development of an embryo or fetus when performed on a pregnant patient. Women should always consult with their SMIL radiologist if there is any possibility they could be pregnant.