Bone x-ray: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P A bone x-ray is an imaging test to look at the bones.

T How the Test is Performed
P The test is done in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an x-ray technician. For the test, you will position the bone to be x-rayed on the table. Pictures are then taken, and the bone is repositioned for different views.

T How to Prepare for the Test
P Tell the health care provider if you are pregnant. You must remove all jewelry for the x-ray.

T How the Test will Feel
P The x-rays are painless. Changing position for getting different views of the bone may be uncomfortable.

T Why the Test is Performed
P A bone x-ray is used to look for injuries or conditions affecting the bone.

T What Abnormal Results Mean
P Abnormal findings include:
- Fractures or broken bone
- Bone tumors
- Degenerative bone conditions
- Osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone caused by an infection)
P Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) II
- Multiple myeloma
- Osgood-Schlatter disease
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Osteomalacia
- Paget's disease
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Rickets

T Risks
P There is low radiation exposure. X-ray machines are set to provide the smallest amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits.
P Children and the fetuses of pregnant women are more sensitive to the risks of the x-ray. A protective shield may be worn over areas not being scanned.

T Alternative Names
P X-ray - bone

T Images
- Skeleton
- Skeletal spine
- Osteogenic sarcoma - x-ray

T References
P Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Bone radiography-diagnostic. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:181-266
P Mettler FA. Skeletal system. In: Mettler FA, ed. Essentials of Radiology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 8.

T Review Date 5/14/2017
P Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

