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Advantages :

Advantage of X-rays is that they are cheaper than other scanning devices. If a patient requires a medical scan, an X-ray
costs health insurance plans less than a MRI or a CT scan. It is also cheaper for a hospital or a doctor’s office to maintain
a X-ray machine than an MRI or CT scan machine

Another advantage to X-rays is that they are easier to use when compared to MRIs or CT scans. Emergency rooms often
have X-ray machines to help patients . If a patient requires a MRI or CT scan, either an appointment must be set up or
the patient must be transported to a hospital that has this technology readily available

Helps in Identifying cancer.

Helps in treating tumor and Bone fractures.

Disadvantages:

One disadvantage of X-rays is that they do not give detailed image of the body. MRI or CT scans are excellent tools if the
doctor is trying to find a medical issue with organs, bone, the brain, and tissues.

They do not use same form of energy in all types of scanning.

Large exposure to the rays may cause Skin cancer.

Sometimes the DNA of the body is also notes to be changed.

Advantages of X-Ray

Following are the advantages of X-Ray:

➨It is cheaper and simple technique.

➨It has lower radiation compare to CT scan.

➨X-rays are not absorbed very much by air, hence specimen need not be in an evacuated chamber.

➨It helps to diagnose tumours easily without the need of surgery.

➨X-rays are widely used by radiologists to identify cracks, for infections, to indentify level of injury, and to identify
abnormal bones.

➨It helps to locate alien objects inside or around bones.

Disadvantages of X-Ray

Following are the disadvantages of X-Ray:

➨It does not provide 3D information.

➨Bones can block significant diagnostic data as it absorbs the radiation.

➨They do not interact very strongly with lighter elements.

➨Due to its radiation, it mutates cells which causes ionisation. This often leads to cancer.
➨It does not produce the best image but medium quality image.

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X-rays are a vital imaging tool used around the globe. Since first being used to image bones over 100 years ago, the X-ray
has saved countless lives and helped in a range of important discoveries.

X-rays are a naturally occurring form of electromagnetic radiation. They are produced when charged particles of
sufficient energy hit a material.

Over the years, scientists have shown concern over the health implications of X-rays. After all, they involve firing
radiation at the patient. But, do its benefits outweigh its risks?

This MNT Knowledge Center article will discuss what X-rays are, how they are used in medical science, and the level of
risk that they pose.

facts on X-rays

Here are some key points about X-rays. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

X-rays are a naturally occurring type of radiation.

They are classed as a carcinogen.

The benefits of X-rays far outweigh any potential negative outcomes.

CT scans give the largest dose of X-rays compared to other X-ray procedures.

In X-rays, bones show up white, and gasses appear black.

What are X-rays?

[X-ray skull from right side]

The first X-ray was carried out over 100 years ago.

Wilhelm Röntgen is credited with first describing X-rays. Just weeks after he discovered that they could help visualize
bones, X-rays were being used in a medical setting.

The first person to receive an X-ray for medical purposes was young Eddie McCarthy of Hanover, who fell while skating
on the Connecticut River in 1896 and fractured his left wrist.

Everyone on the planet is exposed to a certain amount of radiation as they go about their daily lives. Radioactive
material is found naturally in the air, soil, water, rocks, and vegetation. The greatest source of natural radiation for most
people is radon.

Additionally, the Earth is constantly bombarded by cosmic radiation, which includes X-rays. These rays are not harmless
but they are unavoidable, and the radiation is at such low levels that its effects are virtually unnoticed.

Pilots, cabin crew, and astronauts are at more risk of higher doses because of the increased exposure to cosmic rays at
altitude.

There have, however, been few studies linking an airborne occupation to increased incidence of cancer.
Risks

X-rays can cause mutations in our DNA and, therefore, might lead to cancer later in life. For this reason, X-rays are
classified as a carcinogen by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States government. However,
the benefits of X-ray technology far outweigh the potential negative consequences of using them.

It is estimated that 0.4 percent of cancers in the U.S. are caused by CT scans. Some scientists expect this level to rise in
parallel with the increased use of CT scans in medical procedures. At least 62 million CT scans were carried out in
America in 2007.

According to one study, by the age of 75 years, X-rays will increase the risk of cancer by 0.6 to 1.8 percent. In other
words, the risks are minimal compared to the benefits of medical imaging.

Each procedure has a different associated risk that depends on the type of X-ray and the part of the body being imaged.
The list below shows some of the more common imaging procedures and compares the radiation dose to the normal
background radiation that all people encounter on a daily basis.

Side effects

While X-rays are linked to a slightly increased risk of cancer, there is an extremely low risk of short-term side effects.

Exposure to high radiation levels can have a range of effects, such as vomiting, bleeding, fainting, hair loss, and the loss
of skin and hair.

However, X-rays provide such a low dose of radiation that they are not believed to cause any immediate health
problems.

Benefits

The fact that X-rays have been used in medicine for such a significant length of time shows how beneficial they are
considered to be. Although an X-ray alone is not always sufficient to diagnose a disease or condition, they are an
essential part of the diagnostic process.

Some of the main benefits are as follows:

Non-invasive: An X-ray can help diagnose a medical issue or monitor treatment progression without the need to
physically enter and examine a patient.

Guiding: X-rays can help guide medical professionals as they insert catheters, stents, or other devices inside the patient.
They can also help in the treatment of tumors and remove blood clots or other similar blockages

Unexpected finds: An X-ray can sometimes show up a feature or pathology that is different from the initial reason for
the imaging. For instance, infections in the bone, gas or fluid in areas where there should be none, or some types of
tumor.

Safety

It is important to keep the risks in perspective.


An average CT scan might raise the chance of fatal cancer by 1 in 2,000. This figure pales in comparison to the natural
incidence of fatal cancer in the US of 1 in 5.

Additionally, there is some debate as to whether very low X-ray exposure can cause cancer at all. A recent report on the
matter, published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology, claims that X-ray procedures carry no risk.

The paper argues that the type of radiation experienced in a scan is not enough to cause long-lasting damage. The
authors claim that any damage caused by low-dose radiation is repaired by the body, leaving no lasting mutations. It is
only when a certain threshold is reached that permanent damage can be produced. This threshold, according to the
authors, is far higher than the standard X-ray dose from any type of scan.

It is important to note that these safety facts apply to adults only. CT scans in children may triple the risk of brain cancer
and leukemia, especially when administered to the abdomen and chest at certain doses. They are still performed but
need to be done only after discussing the risks and benefits with the child's family.

The authors go on to point out that despite being bombarded by cosmic rays and background radiation, the people of
America are living longer than ever, partly because of advancements in medical imaging, such as the CT scan.

Overall, the importance of making the right diagnosis and choosing the correct course of treatment makes X-rays far
more beneficial than they are dangerous. Whether there is a small risk or no risk at all, the X-ray is here to stay.

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