Radiography of the lungs helps to study lungs with the help of X-rays. The most popular type of radiography is fluorography . It has features in the technique of the procedure, due to which the patient receives a small dose of radiation, while the test is of low cost. In addition, the rapidity of the result, therefore, fluorography is included in the list of annual routine examination. But consider other, more informative, types of lung X-rays.
Radiography of lungs with low radiation dose
The first kind of lung X-ray machine was called a low-dose or CCD-detector. His screen is covered with a phosphor, so apparently it looks like a television in the 80s. The reading is performed using an infrared laser that stimulates the phosphor.
Since this system was developed more than thirty years ago, it has its drawbacks:
- increase in exposure time;
- fuzziness and artifacts, mainly around the edges of the images, which is why this shortcoming was not considered serious for a long time;
- low spatial resolution.
These shortcomings affect the result of the survey, since it is not always possible to identify diseases at the initial stages of development. That's why the device was perfected, as a result, a digital apparatus for X-ray of the lungs was invented.
Digital radiography of the lungs
The digital apparatus for radiography of lungs has undeniable advantages, among which is a simplified version of the image, which excludes the development of the image, while it is stored in the computer's memory and remains there long enough.
Another important advantage of modern equipment is the high quality of the image, devoid of all defects and blurring, even at the edges. Due to a clear result of the study, the doctor can notice any change in the lungs, so the effect of the treatment becomes more pronounced.
Many fear that the digital apparatus irradiates much more than its predecessor. This is an erroneous opinion, since many modern devices not only do not exceed the level of irradiation, but also emit significantly smaller doses of radiation. Therefore, today preference is given to new models of X-ray machines.
In what cases is lung radiography reviewed?
X-ray examination of the lungs is performed with respiratory disease, namely:
- tuberculosis ;
- pneumonia;
- various forms of bronchitis;
- tumor;
- occupational lung diseases of a different nature.
Radiography of the lungs with pneumonia demonstrates a shallow focal shading. If there is a cavity in the lung, then we can assume the presence of tuberculosis or the disintegration of the tumor.