About Radiography
Radiography is the use of X-rays to view areas or objects that are normally not visible. X-rays are a form of radiation, focused into beams, which are able to pass through some materials and most types of tissue in the human body. Dense materials and tissue, such as bones, absorb X-rays and cause them to bounce back and appear white on film. This enables scientists, physicists, researchers, and other professionals to see inside the human body or detect hidden flaws in materials that would otherwise not be visible. The invention and advancement of radiography has greatly improved the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and has led to safer and more reliable manufacturing techniques.
Significance
Radiography has had an enormous impact on society, especially in the areas of medicine and industry. The use of radiography in medicine enables physicians and researchers to view areas of the body that were once impossible to see and has led to increased understanding and better treatment of conditions affecting organs such as the heart, brain and lungs. Radiography has also improved the economy of most developed countries due to its benefits on industry, manufacturing and through the employment of physicists, researchers and doctors.
Types
Radiography is typically divided into two types: medical radiography, which is used on living humans or animals and industrial radiography, which includes all other uses of the technology. Medical radiography generally involves the use of conventional X-rays to look through tissue and examine bones, computed tomography, or CT, which offers cross-sectional views of the body, and nuclear scanning techniques, such as positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography, which use radioactive substances to discern normal body structures and functioning from abnormal structures and functioning. Industrial radiography is used primarily to detect flaws in materials during the manufacturing process, but is also used extensively in transportation and law enforcement.
History
The discovery of X-rays in 1895 by Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen started a wave of new technology and advancement. Once Rontgen showed X-rays to be a type of electromagnetic radiation, scientists from all corners of the world began looking for ways to use the rays in various, new applications. X-rays were used diagnostically soon after their discovery, and long before the dangers associated with ionizing radiation were understood. From radiography grew the medical speciality of radiology, which branched out to include diagnostic techniques that do not directly involve the use of radiation. From traditional X-rays, CT scans, mammography, angiography and fluoroscopy came ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and other medical diagnostic techniques.
Benefits
The use of X-rays in medicine has resulted in more accurate diagnosis and better treatment options for a variety of conditions, including broken bones, cancer, developmental disorders, spinal trauma and dental conditions. Radiography allows physicians to locate, access and treat fractures, monitor the progress of arthritis and other disorders of the bones and joints, plan and perform complicated surgeries, find tumors, detect infections, diagnose and treat dental conditions and identify abnormalities in the brain, lungs, and other organs. Industrial radiography offers a non-destructive means of detecting flaws during and after manufacturing and enables public safety officials to examine hazardous or suspicious materials with reduced risk of personal injury.
Considerations
Because radiography involves the use of ionizing radiation, there are risks associated with its use. However, regulations exist to protect workers and healthcare professionals from exposure to gamma rays and X-rays, and most equipment used today does not emit levels of radiation high enough to be of serious concern. Repeated exposure to radiation does carry a slight risk of cancer, but the medical benefits of exposure, such as accurate diagnosis and/or treatment, typically outweigh the risk. Special care is required during a radiographic examination to shield both the health worker and the patient from unnecessary exposure.
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