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Besides working with patients, x-ray technicians get to work
with some really neat equipment. For students considering
a career in x-ray technology, learning about how all those
really cool machines work is half the fun. Though x-ray technician
courses will go into much more scientific detail, here are
some of the very basic details about how x-ray technology
works and how technicians use it on the job.
How does an x-ray machine work?
An x-ray, technically speaking, is a type of light wave made
up of photons that is invisible to the human eye. X-ray machines
fire high-speed streams of photons that pass through the soft
tissue of the body like skin and fat and are absorbed by harder
tissue like bones. While this is happening, the x-ray technician
takes a photograph that “sees” inside the body
to the bones underneath the surface.
How is x-ray film developed?
X-ray film is used just like regular camera film, except
that it is usually left as a negative instead of fully processed.
With the image still in negative form, the color is reversed.
That way, the parts of the body that the photons (or “light”)
pass through appear dark, and the parts of the body that absorb
photons like bones show up bright white. This allows doctors
to see visible fractures and other problems.
What can and can’t be seen on an x-ray?
In addition to seeing fractured bones, doctors can also use
x-rays to see foreign objects in the digestive system and
joint swelling and erosion that are common in arthritis patients.
By changing the x-ray procedure somewhat, it’s sometimes
possible to examine softer tissue like organs or blood vessels.
X-ray technology has limits, though. While it’s possible
to detect lung cancer and breast cancer with x-ray technology,
many types of cancer do not show up on radiographs.
How do x-ray technicians protect themselves from
radiation?
As some of the best doctors and scientists discovered, working
with radiation can be very dangerous. Marie Curie, best known
for her work with radiation, died from cancer caused by a
lifetime of exposure to radioactive material. Wilhelm Roentgen,
the man who discovered x-rays and set the groundwork for using
x-ray machines for diagnostic purposes, had the foresight
to protect himself from radiation by using lead shields in
his laboratory.
Today’s x-ray technicians take many precautions to
ensure that they and their patients receive minimal exposure
to radiation. It is standard practice for x-ray technicians
to wear lead aprons while taking x-rays, just like patients
are draped with lead aprons to cover vulnerable body parts
that are not being photographed. They may also wear lead-lined
gloves and use other shielding equipment. Many hospitals require
x-ray technicians to wear devices that measure long-term exposure
to radiation to make sure they are not accumulating dangerous
levels of radiation in their bodies over time.
Because we now know about the effects of radiation and how
too much exposure to x-rays can cause radiation sickness and
cancer, today’s x-ray technicians work in safe environments
and take many precautions. A standard component of any x-ray
technician certificate program is learning how to stay safe
on the job.
To learn information about x-ray technician programs, see
this list of X-Ray
Technician Schools to request information.
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