X-ray of the skeleton

How the Test is Performed:
The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an X-ray technician. You are asked to position the bone to be X-rayed on the table, or stand in different positions depending on the X-ray being taken. The pictures are then taken, repositioning the bone for different views.

Normally an X-ray is selective for a particular area of concern, but with a skeletal survey, all areas are X-rayed.

How to Prepare:
Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant . You must remove all jewelry.

If your child is to have this test performed, it may be helpful to explain how the test will feel, and even practice or demonstrate on a doll. The more familiar your child is with what will happen to them and why, the less anxiety he or she will feel.

How it Feels:
The X-rays themselves are painless; however, repositioning the bone(s) may be uncomfortable. Since the entire body is being evaluated, the test usually takes an hour or more.

Risks:
There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of the X-ray . A protective shield may be worn over areas not being scanned.

Why this Test is Performed:
A skeletal survey X-ray is used to detect fractures , metastasis ( cancer that has spread to other areas of the body), osteomyelitis , after a trauma (such as an auto accident), or degenerative conditions of the bone. It is often used in children where abuse is suspected.

Normal Values:
The X-ray shows normal structures for the age of the patient.

Abnormal Results:
Abnormal findings include fractures , bone tumors , degenerative bone conditions, and osteomyelitis (inflammation of the bone caused by an infection).

Cost:
Information not available.

Special Considerations:
Not applicable.


This is an illustration of the skeletal system. The different types of bones in the hands and feet are color-coded. The bones that connect to the ankles or wrists are blue, the middle bones are red, and the fingers and toes are yellow.



The spine is divided into several sections. The cervical vertebrae make up the neck. The thoracic vertebrae comprise the chest section and have ribs attached. The lumbar vertebrae are the remaining vertebrae below the last thoracic bone and the top of the sacrum. The sacral vertebrae are caged within the bones of the pelvis, and the coccyx represents the terminal vertebrae or vestigial tail.