Abdominal X-ray

What is abdominal x-ray?

An x-ray exam helps doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions. It exposes you to a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the body. X-rays are the oldest and most often used form of medical imaging.

Abdominal x-ray is a commonly performed diagnostic x-ray examination that produces images of the organs in the abdominal cavity including the stomach, liver, intestines and spleen.

When an abdominal x-ray is performed to provide pictures of the kidneys, ureters and bladder, it's called a KUB x-ray.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

Abdominal x-ray is often the first imaging test used to evaluate and diagnose the source of acute pain in the abdominal region and/or lower back as well as unexplained nausea and vomiting.

Abdominal x-ray is also performed to help diagnose conditions such as:

• kidney and urinary bladder stones and gallstones
• intestinal blockages
• perforation of the stomach or intestine
• ingestion of foreign objects

Abdominal x-ray may also be used to help properly place catheters and tubes used for feeding or to decompress organs such as the gallbladder and kidneys.

How should I prepare?

An abdominal x-ray requires no special preparation.

You may need to remove some clothing and/or change into a gown for the exam. Remove jewelry, removable dental appliances, eyeglasses, and any metal objects or clothing that might interfere with the x-ray images.

You should inform your physician if you have had a barium sulfate contrast material x-ray or if you have taken any medicines such as Pepto Bismol in the last few days, as they may interfere with the x-ray.

You may be asked to empty your bladder before the test.

Women should inform their physician and x-ray technologist, an individual specially trained to perform radiology examinations, if they have an intrauterine device (IUD) inserted for pregnancy prevention.

Women should always inform their physician and x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. An abdominal x-ray is usually not performed on pregnant women so as not to expose the baby to radiation. The ovaries and uterus cannot be shielded during the abdominal x-ray because of their location. Abdominal ultrasound is a common, safe alternative for pregnant women. See the X-ray Safety page for more information about pregnancy and x-rays.

What does the equipment look like?

The equipment typically used for an abdominal x-ray consists of a table on which the patient lies and a large x-ray machine suspended from the ceiling. There is a drawer under the table to hold the x-ray film or digital recording plate.

Compact, portable x-ray machines can be taken to the patient in a hospital bed or the emergency room. The x-ray tube is connected to a flexible arm. The technologist extends the arm over the patient and places an x-ray film holder or image recording plate under the patient.

How does the procedure work?

X-rays are a form of radiation like light or radio waves. X-rays pass through most objects, including the body. The technologist carefully aims the x-ray beam at the area of interest. The machine produces a small burst of radiation that passes through your body. The radiation records an image on photographic film or a special detector.

Different parts of the body absorb the x-rays in varying degrees. Dense bone absorbs much of the radiation while soft tissue (muscle, fat, and organs) allow more of the x-rays to pass through them. As a result, bones appear white on the x-ray, soft tissue shows up in shades of gray, and air appears black.

Most x-ray images are electronically stored digital files. Your doctor can easily access these stored images to diagnose and manage your condition.

How is the procedure performed?

The technologist will position you on the x-ray table. You may be asked to wear a lead shield to help protect certain parts of your body. The x-ray machine will be positioned over your abdominal area.

You must hold very still and may need to hold your breath for a few seconds while the technologist takes the x-ray. This helps reduce the possibility of a blurred image. The technologist will walk behind a wall or into the next room to activate the x-ray machine.

The technologist may ask you to lie on your side or to stand up for additional images. The standing position will allow the radiologist to see if there are any blockages or perforations in your digestive tract.

When the examination is complete, the technologist may ask you to wait until the radiologist confirms they have all the necessary images.

The entire abdominal x-ray examination, from positioning to obtaining and verifying the images, is usually completed within 15 minutes, although the actual exposure to radiation is usually less than a second.

What will I experience during and after the procedure?

An abdominal x-ray examination is painless.

You may experience discomfort from the cool temperature in the examination room or the hardness of the x-ray table. You may find that the positions you need to hold are uncomfortable or painful, especially if you have an injury.

The technologist will assist you in finding the most comfortable position possible to ensure diagnostic image quality.

Who interprets the results and how do I get them?

A radiologist, a doctor trained to supervise and interpret radiology examinations, will analyze the images. The radiologist will send a signed report to your primary care or referring physician who will discuss the results with you.

The results of an abdominal x-ray can be available almost immediately for review by your radiologist.

You may need a follow-up exam. If so, your doctor will explain why. Sometimes a follow-up exam further evaluates a potential issue with more views or a special imaging technique. It may also see if there has been any change in an issue over time. Follow-up exams are often the best way to see if treatment is working or if a problem needs attention.

What are the benefits vs. risks?

Benefits

• Abdominal x-ray imaging is a painless, minimally invasive procedure with rare complications.
• Radiology examinations can often provide enough information to avoid more invasive procedures.
• X-ray equipment is relatively inexpensive and widely available in emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, ambulatory care centers, nursing homes, and other locations. This makes it convenient for both patients and doctors.
• Because x-ray imaging is fast and easy, it is particularly useful in emergency diagnosis and treatment.
• No radiation stays in your body after an x-ray exam.
• X-rays usually have no side effects in the typical diagnostic range for this exam.

Risks

• There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, given the small amount of radiation used in medical imaging, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the associated risk.
• The radiation dose for this procedure varies. See the Radiation Dose page for more information.
• Women should always tell their doctor and x-ray technologist if they are pregnant. See the Radiation Safety page for more information about pregnancy and x-rays.

A Word About Minimizing Radiation Exposure

Doctors take special care during x-ray exams to use the lowest radiation dose possible while producing the best images for evaluation. National and international radiology protection organizations continually review and update the technique standards radiology professionals use.

Modern x-ray systems minimize stray (scatter) radiation by using controlled x-ray beams and dose control methods. This ensures that the areas of your body not being imaged receive minimal radiation exposure.

What are the limitations of an abdominal x-ray?

Abdominal x-ray is a useful first step in the imaging workup. However, the images are not as detailed as those of other approaches such as computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen and pelvis. Further imaging studies may be necessary to clarify the results of an abdominal x-ray or to look for abnormalities not visible on the abdominal x-ray.

Abdominal x-ray is not considered safe for pregnant women.