X-ray of the thoracic spine

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The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae. This part of the back is the least mobile and in general it bears much less load than other parts. However, the thoracic spine can also suffer from trauma, damage and certain diseases. A common problem in this area of the back is poor posture, which, if not treated correctly, can lead to more serious illnesses. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to diagnose diseases of the thoracic back in a timely manner, because in this case, painful sensations are difficult to identify and are often mistaken for symptoms of completely different diseases. For example, the cause of pain syndromes in the chest area can be diseases of the respiratory or digestive systems, disorders of the bone structure, and infectious diseases.

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Structural subdivision of Polikarpov Alley Polikarpov 6k2 Primorsky district

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Structural subdivision of Zhukov Marshal Zhukov Ave. 28k2 Kirovsky district

Avtovo
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Leninsky Prospekt

Structural subdivision Devyatkino Okhtinskaya alley 18 Vsevolozhsk district

Devyatkino
Civil Prospect
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For detailed information and to make an appointment, you can call +7 (812) 640-55-25

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We draw your attention to the schedule of technological breaks in the CT and X-ray rooms.

If pain when bending and turning reduces the quality of your life, you feel numbness in your limbs or a characteristic crunch accompanies your movements, do not delay going to the doctor. A surgeon, neurologist, orthopedist, rheumatologist and traumatologist will always come to the rescue with thoracic back injuries, injuries, osteochondrosis, posture disorders and other diseases. At the initial consultation, after examining and collecting anamnesis, a specialist will most likely prescribe an x-ray of the thoracic spine if you come with relevant complaints and injuries.

You can take a high-quality x-ray of the thoracic region in St. Petersburg at the Medicenter network of multidisciplinary clinics. Our medical center has a trauma center equipped with modern X-ray equipment made in Italy, Clinomat. The device allows you to take X-ray images of various parts of the body in full and study the results of the study in a variety of processing modes.

Advantages of performing an X-ray of the spine at the Miracle Doctor clinic:

The
radiologists of our clinic have the first and highest qualification categories. Our doctors can easily determine the slightest changes in the bone structure of the vertebrae.
Equipment
The work of even the most highly qualified radiologists will not be effective without modern equipment. Our X-ray machines are manufactured using the latest medical technology, are easy to maintain and have maximum resolution.

Indications for X-ray of the thoracic spine

There is absolutely no need to take an x-ray for every tingling sensation in the chest area. But there are a number of cases when an X-ray examination of the thoracic back is necessary to identify pathologies, injuries and causes of illnesses, as well as to clarify the diagnosis.

Chest X-ray shows:

for spinal injuries in the thoracic region;
infectious diseases;
sensations of squeezing in the chest area;
girdle chest pain;
numbness of the limbs;
tuberculosis;
neoplasms and tumor processes;
osteochondrosis;
curvature of the spine, scoliosis;
congenital pathologies of the spine;
before spinal surgery;
osteoporosis;
pain when bending over, moving, lying on your back, etc.

How can x-rays be dangerous?

X-rays are electromagnetic waves in the range between ultraviolet and gamma radiation.

Accordingly, an X-ray machine is a source of ionizing radiation, a serious overdose of which leads to the destruction of the integrity of DNA and RNA chains. They are not always restored, because the ability of the DNA molecule to withstand the negative effects of ionizing radiation is limited. Therefore, the annual effective dose approved by SanPin is determined based on the rapid restoration of DNA and RNA molecules, as well as the amount of radiation at which the damage will be insignificant.

Possible consequences of abuse of the procedure:

cancer of any system or organ;
radiation sickness;
mutations;
genetic changes, etc.

The consequences can be unpleasant and even scary, but all this becomes possible only with huge overdoses of ionizing radiation, which is simply impossible to obtain in modern digital X-ray machines. Especially if you are undergoing examination on the recommendation of a doctor.

The average annual dose of natural radiation is 2.4 mSv per person, and 1 hour on an airplane costs 0.003 mSv.

Now, for a better understanding, let’s look at the radiation doses that a patient receives during radiography:

chest x-ray - 0.03 mSv;
mammography - 0.05 mSv;
intraoral radiography - 0.02 mSv;
cervical spine - 0.03 mSv;
fluorography - 0.03 mSv;
X-ray of the skull - 0.04 mSv;
X-ray of the intestines - 0.02 mSv.

It is obvious that X-ray examinations using modern digital devices are completely safe

and do not provide significant radiation exposure to the human body. This increases the chances of detecting a serious disease at an early stage and prescribing the most effective treatment.

Contraindications to radiography of the thoracic spine

X-ray examination of the thoracic region is contraindicated during pregnancy and can only be prescribed for health reasons. In addition, X-rays of the thoracic region are not recommended for persons with mental illnesses that make it difficult to remain still even for a short time; for children under 15 years of age, any X-ray examination is carried out strictly according to indications with a referral from the attending physician. X-rays should not be taken even within 3-4 days after X-ray examination with barium suspension.

Contraindications

X-rays have several relative contraindications related to potential harm from radiation:

The patient's age is less than 15 years.
Pregnancy and lactation.

However, with digital devices the level of radiation is so low that you shouldn’t worry too much about it, and the possibility of examination and the need to do an x-ray (and not an ultrasound or MRI) is determined by the doctor.

The usefulness of x-rays may be questionable if the patient weighs more than 130 kg - the images may be unclear.

Preparation for x-ray of the thoracic spine

Preliminary preparation, as for x-rays of the lumbar or lumbosacral spine, does not require x-rays of the thoracic spine. However, there are a number of rules that must be followed. Before the examination, you need to remove all jewelry and metal objects, as well as clothing with metal elements, put away your phone and strictly follow the specialist’s requirements. It is important to remain motionless during the photograph and roll over or stand in the positions necessary for an effective examination.

What does it diagnose?

The data obtained after the diagnostic procedure about the condition of the thoracic spine is deciphered by a specialist and the resulting data enable the specialist who sent for an x-ray:

diagnose fractures, dislocations, subluxations of the vertebrae;
identify pathological processes in bone and cartilage tissue of various origins - systemic inflammatory, infectious in nature (including tuberculosis of bones and joints);
detect benign, malignant tumors and their metastases, metastases of tumors from other organs, other formations of various origins;
identify congenital malformations in newborns and infants;
visualize curvature deformities of the spine - lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis;
determine the signs and degree of osteoporosis (especially important for women during menopause);
assess signs of osteochondrosis;
pathologies of bone and cartilage structures;
intervertebral hernia.

The procedure for performing radiography of the thoracic spine

An X-ray examination of the thoracic spine, as a rule, shows all the thoracic vertebrae, except for a few lower ones, which are not very clear due to the shadow from the abdominal organs. In addition, with kyphosis, the intervertebral discs are not visible. Taking these factors into account, in order to see the full picture of the structure of the thoracic spine, x-rays of the thoracic spine are taken in several projections.

The position in which the patient will be is of great importance for a high-quality image.

As a rule, X-rays of the thoracic region are performed in a direct projection and a lateral projection with the arms clasped around the head and the elbows pointing forward. The patient is lying on his back or side.

The examination takes from 5 to 20 minutes.

How the research is carried out

No special preparation is required for the study. The patient undresses to the waist in the X-ray room, removes all jewelry and lies down on the table with his arms extended along his body. Typically, pictures are taken in two projections: lying on your back and lying on your side. Sometimes it is necessary to take pictures in other projections and the patient is asked to lie on his stomach or bend over.

The duration of the study is 10–15 minutes. The examination procedure is absolutely painless.

After receiving the images, the radiologist describes them, issues a conclusion and, if necessary, refers the patient to the right specialist.

Contraindications

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Before the procedure

The attending physician should explain the procedure to the patient and answer any questions they may have about the procedure.
As a rule, no preliminary preparation is required for an X-ray of the spine.
It is necessary to inform the radiologist if there is or is suspected pregnancy
It is important to notify the radiologist of a recent barium study as this may interfere with optimal image quality.
Depending on your health, your doctor may recommend certain preparations.

Indications

X-rays of the spine (one or more sections) may be ordered to diagnose the origin of back or neck pain, dislocations, fractures, vertebral displacement, vertebral degeneration, tumors, spinal curvatures such as kyphosis or scoliosis, or congenital anomalies.

The doctor may prescribe an x-ray of the spine for other reasons:

Finding the cause of lower back pain
Past trauma
Abnormal curvatures of the spine
Abnormal wear and tear of the cartilage and bones of the spine, such as bone osteophytes and narrowing of the space between vertebrae
Cancer (with significant changes in bone structure)
Fractures
Signs of thinning bones (osteoporosis)
Spondylolisthesis
Preparation and control of surgical treatment

However, X-rays are limited and cannot diagnose conditions such as sciatica, herniated disc or spinal stenosis. In such cases, it is necessary to perform an MRI or CT scan (MSCT).

Risks

The patient has the right to find out from the doctor about the amount of radiation that will be received during the study and the possible risks. The patient needs to record data on previous radiological studies, since X-ray radiation has a cumulative effect.
If the patient is pregnant or suspects that she is pregnant, she should inform her health care provider due to the risk of birth defects in the baby. Therefore, it is better to replace x-rays with other diagnostic methods, such as MRI.
Depending on the specific disease, there may be other risks.

How to properly prepare for an x-ray of the lumbosacral spine?

In order for the study to show reliable information, it is necessary to prepare in advance before going to the diagnostic room.

Increased gas production and bloating can distort X-ray results. Therefore, to prepare, you need to follow a special diet for several days. 3 days before the examination, you should not eat legumes, cabbage, raw vegetables and fruits, rye bread, or carbonated drinks. You should not drink alcohol and should refrain from smoking.

After the last dinner, the intestines must be cleansed. You can do a cleansing enema or take any laxative.

During the procedure

X-rays can be performed in a clinic or while the patient is in a hospital.

The patient may be asked to remove clothing and objects on the body that could potentially cause distortion in the images.
If the patient is asked to remove any clothing, they will be given a gown.
The patient will be placed on the x-ray table, with the area of interest captured and the x-ray beam passes through the body and hits the film or digital matrix. The attending physician may also order x-rays to be taken with the patient standing.
Parts of the body that are not scanned may be covered with a protective apron to reduce the harmful effects of X-ray radiation.
The radiologist will ask the patient to stand or lie still in the desired position for a few seconds while the scan takes place.
When x-rays are taken after injuries, steps can be taken to prevent additional injury. For example, if a fracture is suspected in the cervical spine, a cervical brace may be used.
In some cases, an x-ray of the spine can be performed not only in standard positions.
It is extremely important to remain absolutely still during the scan, as even slight movement can cause the image to become distorted and additional images may be required. The patient may be asked to inhale or exhale during the procedure.
The X-ray beam will be focused on the area being examined.
During the scan, the radiological technologist will be in an adjacent room and observe the patient through a protective window.

The X-ray procedure does not result in any pain, but if the patient has recently had an injury or an invasive procedure, discomfort or pain may occur when placing the patient in certain positions for the scan.