WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

In general, you undress whatever part of your body needs examination. You may wear a gown during the exam, depending on which area is being X-rayed. You may also be asked to remove jewelry, eyeglasses and any metal objects because they can show up on an X-ray.  Before some types of X-rays, you’re given a liquid called contrast medium. Contrast mediums, such as barium and iodine, help highlight a specific area of your body on the X-ray image. A Radiographer positions your body to obtain the necessary views. During the test, you must stay still (and sometimes hold your breath to avoid moving) to prevent blurry images.

An X-ray procedure may take from a few minutes for a bone X-ray to more than an hour for more-involved procedures, such as those using a contrast medium.