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Bone x-ray

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Definition:

A bone x-ray may detect fractures , tumors, or degenerative conditions of the bone.

Alternative Names:

X-ray - bone

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 technician. You will position the bone to be x-rayed on the table, pictures are then taken, and the bone is repositioned, if necessary, for different views.

How to prepare for the test:

Inform 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 bone may be uncomfortable.

Why the test is performed:

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

• 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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