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X-ray - skeleton

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Definition:

A skeletal x-ray is used to detect fractures , tumors, or degenerative conditions of the bone.

Alternative Names:

Skeletal survey

How the test is performed:

The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider’s office by an x-ray technologist. The bone to be x-rayed is positioned on the table. Or, the patient may stand in different positions depending on the x-ray being taken. The pictures are then taken. The bone may be repositioned for different views.

Normally, an x-ray focuses on a particular area of concern, but with a skeletal survey, all areas are imaged.

How to prepare for the test:

Tell the health care provider if you are pregnant. You must remove all jewelry.

How the test will feel:

The x-rays themselves are painless. However, repositioning the bones may be uncomfortable. If the entire body is being evaluated, the test usually takes an hour or more.

Why the test is performed:

A skeletal survey x-ray is used to detect fractures, metastasis ( cancer that has spread to other areas of the body), osteomyelitis , after a trauma (such as an auto accident), or in degenerative conditions of the bone. It is often used in children suspected of being abused.

• Review Date: 7/18/2007
• Reviewed By: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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