Conventional radiography revolutionized medical diagnostics in the early 1900s, allowing doctors to diagnose injuries and abnormalities quickly without performing invasive procedures.
This article will explore how it’s used and some variations in techniques that can enhance its performance. We will also examine the disadvantages of this older technology and when it is best to upgrade to newer machines.
Let’s dive in and explore the world of conventional radiographic imaging.
How Does Conventional Radiography Work?
Conventional radiographic imaging uses X-rays, a type of electromagnetic radiation, to create images of a patient’s internal structures. These machines utilize films to capture the image, which requires additional processing time and storage.
It distinguishes them from newer digital and computed radiography, which utilize digitization to produce faster 2D images (standard digital) or additional advanced computer processing to produce 3D images of the body (computed radiography).
How Is Conventional Radiography Performed?
In conventional radiographic imaging, an x-ray beam is passed through a patient to a piece of film or a radiation detector that detects the X-rays and produces an image. The X-rays are attenuated differently through different tissues depending on their density.
More dense tissues like bones absorb more of the X-rays, producing much greater contrast and appearing white on the image. Soft tissues, like internal organs, allow more X-rays to pass through because they are less dense and appear in different shades of gray. Where there are no tissues, those areas will appear black.
These color differences produce images radiologists and doctors use to diagnose abnormalities, diseases, and injuries.
Uses of Conventional Radiography
Fractures
Bone fractures are the most common use of conventional radiographic imaging because bones appear white on the images and contrast nicely with the surrounding soft tissues, which appear gray. Fractures allow X-rays to pass through and appear as shades of gray.
Pneumonia
These procedures also work well in patients suffering from pneumonia because the inflammatory exudate that fills the lungs is easy to see. It will appear lighter gray compared to the lung’s air spaces, which will appear much darker.
Intestinal Obstruction
Intestinal obstructions are also easy to visualize because the obstructions produce dilated, air-filled loops of intestines. Since air appears very dark, it allows easy visualization against the gray of the surrounding soft tissues.
Osteoporosis
Since osteoporosis involves a loss of bone density, affected areas of the bones will absorb less radiation than healthy bones, allowing for a fast and easy diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Variations of Conventional Radiography
Contrast Studies
Radiopaque contrast agents that block the passage of X-rays provide contrast that is useful when adjacent tissues are similar in density and hard to differentiate from the surrounding tissues. Contrast agents make tissues appear more white against the surrounding tissues.
They’re often injected into blood vessels, the lumina of the digestive tract, or genitourinary tracts. Sometimes, gas is used to distend the lower gastrointestinal tract to increase its visibility.
Contrast studies are used less than they used to because they are being replaced with CT or MRI machines that allow for better visualization of soft tissue abnormalities without the need for contrast agents. Similarly, endoscopic procedures have replaced most barium contrast use in the gastrointestinal system.
Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy also utilizes contrast agents but involves using a continuous X-ray beam to produce real-time images to visualize moving fluids or structures. It is often used during surgeries or other medical procedures requiring precision placement of surgical tools, cardiac leads, needles, or catheters.
What Are the Disadvantages of Conventional Radiography?
Limited Diagnostic Accuracy
The primary disadvantage of conventional radiographic imaging is its limited diagnostic accuracy, particularly in soft tissue injuries or abnormalities. It’s also not usually accurate enough to monitor the progression of diseases. Since it utilizes film that needs processing, it is less desirable in urgent care, where speed is a priority, and digital radiography is preferred.
Utilizing contrast agents and fluoroscopy both present additional risks from the contrast agents used and the long exposure times to radiation. Newer, more advanced machines are also replacing these.
May Involve High Doses of Radiation
Conventional radiographic imaging often uses much higher doses of radiation to produce quality images. Newer digital technologies can produce even better-quality images at significantly lower radiation doses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference Between Digital Radiography and Conventional Radiography?
While both machines utilize X-ray radiation to produce images of the body’s internal tissues based on density, the primary difference is that conventional radiographic imaging utilizes X-ray films, which must be processed to view the images. In contrast, digital radiography can be viewed on-screen in real-time and never requires film.
Final Thoughts
Conventional radiographic imaging still has its uses in bone fractures, pneumonia, and intestinal obstructions. However, increasingly, they are being replaced with newer, safer machines that utilize lower radiation doses and can better visualize soft tissues.
Fortunately, if you have an older machine, you can upgrade it to utilize digital technology. Contact PatientImage for a wide range of digital X-ray technology, both upgrades and new machines. Take advantage of their popular in-house financing options, which can be tailored to suit your specific needs and budget.
