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It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Top of the page. Test Overview An abdominal X-ray is a picture of structures and organs in the belly abdomen. Why It Is Done An abdominal X-ray is done to: Look for a cause of pain or swelling in the belly or ongoing nausea and vomiting.
Find a cause of pain in the lower back on either side of the spine flank pain. An abdominal X-ray can show the size, shape, and position of the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Look for stones in the gallbladder , kidneys , ureters , or bladder. Look for air outside of the bowel intestines. Find an object that has been swallowed or put into a body cavity. Confirm the proper position of tubes used by your doctor in your treatment, such as a tube to drain the stomach nasogastric tube , a feeding tube in the stomach, a tube to drain the kidney nephrostomy tube , a catheter used for dialysis, a shunt to drain fluid from the brain into the stomach V-P shunt , or other drainage tubes or catheters.
How To Prepare In general, there's nothing you have to do before this test, unless your doctor tells you to. How It Is Done You may be asked to empty your bladder before the test. How long the test takes An abdominal X-ray takes about 5 to 10 minutes. How It Feels You won't feel any pain from the X-ray itself. What is abdominal x-ray? What are some common uses of the procedure? How should I prepare?
What does the equipment look like? How does the procedure work? How is the procedure performed? What will I experience during and after the procedure? Who interprets the results and how do I get them? What are the benefits vs. What are the limitations of an abdominal x-ray? 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.
An abdominal x-ray requires no special preparation. You may be asked to empty your bladder before the test. An abdominal x-ray examination is painless. 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.
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. Women should always tell their doctor and x-ray technologist if they are pregnant. See the Safety in X-ray, Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Procedures 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. Abdominal x-ray is not considered safe for pregnant women.
Send us your feedback Did you find the information you were looking for? Yes No. Area Code:. Plain radiography of the abdomen. Abdominal Imaging. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap 1.
Reviewed by: Linda J. Editorial team. How the Test is Performed The test is done in a hospital radiology department. Men will have a lead shield placed over the testes to protect against the radiation. How to Prepare for the Test Before having the x-ray, tell your provider the following: If you are pregnant or think you could be pregnant Have an IUD inserted Have had a barium contrast x-ray in the last 4 days If you have taken any medicines such as Pepto Bismol in the last 4 days this type of medicine can interfere with the x-ray You wear a hospital gown during the x-ray procedure.
Preparing for an abdominal film. Abdominal film procedure. Interpreting the results of your abdominal film. Possible risks of an abdominal film. Read this next. A Guide to Gallstones Gallstones can block your bile duct and cause abdominal pain.
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