Pneumonia – fatally dangerous disease that affects the lungs. For proper treatment, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnosis. At the moment, there are two modern methods of examining the lungs with suspected inflammation – fluorography and fluoroscopy. Fluorographic check is preliminary in nature, it allows you to detect focal disorders in the early stages. X-ray for pneumonia clarifies the localization of inflammation.    

Indications for

X-rays are only given if there is a serious suspicion of pneumonia. Before proceeding to this method of examination, laboratory tests are prescribed. Also, an X-ray examination is chosen when a more accurate determination of the diagnosis after preliminary fluorography is necessary . This research technique is less common, since the degree of radiation radiation is, on average, three times higher than with fluorographic examination.     

Fluorogram

A fluorogram is often prescribed , almost always during the initial examination. It is used as a preventative measure. The examination is mandatory for persons undergoing medical examination (once every 1 or 2 years). Also, fluorography is performed on patients with HIV, people living with pregnant women, and conscripts.     

With the manifestation of the following symptoms, fluorography is prescribed as an early diagnostic examination:      

  • pain in the chest, in the right side;   
  • fever with constant fever;
  • cough of various nature, both dry and wet; 
  • constant sleepiness;
  • decreased interest in food;
  • shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
  • weakness accompanied by constant dizziness.

The doctor sends for examination after hypothermia or contact with a person infected with pneumonia. In rare cases, the patient is immediately sent for fluoroscopy. This approach helps to quickly identify pathology if urgent treatment is needed. It is used for unscheduled hospitalization of critically ill patients, in the presence of a threat to life.      

Are there any restrictions

X-ray

Before prescribing fluorography for pneumonia, as well as radiography, you need to make sure that the dose of radiation will not be harmful to the patient. To understand if there is a risk, doctors should check the radiation passport. This document is created in medical institutions for all patients who undergo X-ray examinations. The passport contains a description of the radiation procedures passed, as well as a certain amount of mSv received by a person per year.        

A contraindication to fluorography or fluoroscopy is a proportion of exposure of more than 1 mSv . Such an indicator can lead to mutations in the cells of the body. It can be achieved only in total, as an example – having undergone more than 20 X-ray or 33 repeated fluorographic procedures per year using modern equipment, which is almost impossible.       

More common contraindications:

  • Pregnancy. Radiation negatively affects the fetus, especially in the early stages (in the first trimester of development). The child can be born prematurely or acquire various pathologies.    
  • Pregnancy planning, the probability of conception in the first weeks. 
  • Age up to 15 years (for prophylactic fluorography).
  • Lactation. The examination is allowed if, within 4 days after it, the milk for the newborn is replaced with artificial formula.  

For pregnant women, the pelvic and abdominal area is covered with a special apron made of lead

Checking using X-rays allowed if pregnant will use the apron with a lead content. They cover the pelvic and abdominal regions.  

Do you need preparation

There is no special preparation before taking an X-ray . The patient only needs to remove from the chest all objects that may appear on the images. Wearable jewelry, synthetic underwear or clothing with metal elements, chains with crosses must also be removed. Cotton and other T-shirts and T-shirts do not interfere with the passage of X-rays, as they are organic.   

Patients with long hair may experience a decrease in the sensitivity of X-rays. The falling strands that lie on the shoulders and chest must be collected in a bun or pulled up with hands during the examination, otherwise the device will show a distorted image.  

Features of the

Since X-ray radiation is used in both cases, the methods differ little in the way they are carried out. The main differences lie in the degree of exposure and the results.

Fluorography

It is carried out in a fluorographic office. The tested person removes clothing from the chest and presses against the X-ray machine. For the specialist to see a clearer picture, you must hold your breath. A deep breath is taken, and after 5-10 seconds the doctor allows you to breathe fully again. You can look at the doctor’s explanation on the same day, since writing out the conclusion takes no more than 20 minutes.      

   

X-ray

The initial stage of radiography in adults does not differ from the first steps with a fluorogram . The patient needs to stand in front of the ray tube, exposing the chest. At the command of a specialist, you must hold your breath.  

X-rays usually need to take pictures in different projections. If you do not need to change the position of the body during fluorography, then here you will have to turn the body several times.  

X-ray options:

  • Survey. Allows you to find out the details of pneumonia in the initial stages. Radiation is given to the right or left of the body to obtain a lateral projection, and is also directed directly through the chest. Therefore, you must first stand up to the apparatus with your chest, and then press your shoulder against it.        
  • Sighting. It is more often prescribed for congestive pneumonia. It is done at different angles, because of which the procedure can take several minutes. Through targeted research, doctors understand the characteristics of atypical forms of pneumonia.      

How to recognize pneumonia

Pneumonia in the picture

Pneumonia is easy to recognize on X-ray images, less often it is possible to do this with the help of fluorographic ones. The degree of readability of the images depends on the variation of the disease. With focal pneumonia, it is more difficult to detect signs of pathology than with croupous.      

Factors indicating latent focal pneumonia:   

  • infiltration in the pleural region (at the initial stage);
  • an increase in the volume of the lung root;
  • a decrease in the airiness of the lung tissue, which is expressed in the presence of dark spots in the picture;
  • uneven organ structure, segmental darkening;  
  • the presence of effusions in the pleural cavity.

Croupous pneumonia is not a viral, but a bacterial etiology. It has easily visible signs, which leads to an accurate diagnosis:      

  • total spots and darkening in the lungs;  
  • detection of pleural effusions;
  • deformation of the root of the lungs;
  • changing the shape of the domes of the diaphragm;
  • deformation of the lungs.

Lung deformity

Fluorographic images are less informative, do not specify the diagnosis ( upper lobe and lower lobe inflammation are not recognized ). However, the images can be used to identify signs that indicate the presence of pneumonia. These include an increase in lymph nodes, a change in the contour of the lungs. The roots also appear deformed in the pictures . With the help of a fluorographic study, it is possible to preliminarily detect foci of inflammation.      

On the basis of radiographic images , the features of the inflammation are determined . It can be left-sided, right-sided or bilateral, chronic or acute.      

Fluorography refers to preventive manipulations, but an X-ray will be needed to confirm a certain diagnosis related to the chest organs.