News

Chest X-ray

Chest X-rays help clinicians diagnose problems in both the organs and structures in the chest.

Fri Jul 01 2011By Lanier Norville, Medical Dealer Magazine

Chest X-rays help clinicians diagnose problems in both the organs and structures in the chest. However, a chest X-ray provides only a general image, can be difficult for even experts to interpret and may not provide all the information needed for diagnosis, according to a 2009 Kalorama Information market report. If a chest X-ray is abnormal, a more specific test such as a CT scan, ultrasound or MRI is often ordered to provide supplemental information.

Still, chest X-rays are the most commonly performed radiographic exam. According to Kalorama’s X-ray/Radiography Markets report, chest X-rays account for nearly half of all radiographic exams performed today. More than 150 million chest X-rays are performed every year in the U.S., at a cost of more than $11 billion, according to the report.

The fastest-growing segment of the X-ray market is digital X-ray technology. Its major advantage is a reduction in the time it takes to perform the procedure by eliminating the need for film processing. Digital images are also higher quality and can be stored much more efficiently.

 Applications

Chest X-rays are primarily used for mammography, diagnosis of chest injuries and, to a lesser extent, to diagnose cardiovascular disease. Mammograms are X-ray based images of the breast. Regular screening is encouraged due to mammography’s ability to discover early-stage cancer, which is much less expensive to treat ($12,000, on average, versus $150,000 for late-stage treatment). Discovering breast cancer in its early stages also affords patients with a higher chance of receiving effective treatment. Because digital mammography devices use lower doses of radiation, the side effects of regular screening are less of a concern.

Read more in July's issue of Medical Dealer Magazine.

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