4 Benefits of Digital X-Rays

There are many reasons why you might need an X-ray. Here at Excel Diagnostics & Nuclear Oncology Center, Dr. Ebrahim Delpassand and our team rely on digital X-rays to detect abnormal bone growth, tumors, broken bones, or infections. Diagnostic X-ray imaging may be used to diagnose other conditions, including osteoporosis. For example, our dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry DEXA bone density scan can help assess your bone density and health.

Regardless of why you need an X-ray, our team proudly offers digital X-rays because, unlike film X-rays, digital images provide many benefits. Let’s take a look at them below.

1. Digital X-rays create less radiation

Radiography uses ionizing radiation to produce the images of your body. While all radiography (including CT scans, X-rays, and even mammograms) emit ionizing radiation 一 measured in millisievert (mSv) 一 the cons can outweigh the pros, especially, when the images help shape your treatment plan.

The good news is that not all X-rays expose you to the same amounts of radiation, and digital X-rays expose you to far less radiation than traditional film-based X-rays. Our team always adheres to ALARA 一 as low as reasonably achievable 一 standards to keep you as safe as possible and only expose you to the lowest reasonable amount of radiation to capture the necessary images. 

Not only are digital X-rays safer for you, but they’re also better for the environment. Digital X-rays don’t require any toxic chemicals to process the images nor do you have to worry about disposing of the chemicals. Additionally, there’s no packaging waste generated to ship films or chemicals.

2. Digital X-rays deliver images faster

Traditional film X-rays must be processed with chemicals in a darkroom similar to how film photographs are developed in a darkroom. This process can be time-consuming. Without the need to process films in a darkroom, the entire digital X-ray workflow is faster. This means your images are available immediately.

3. Digital X-rays are more accurate

Not only does the digital workflow mean that your images are available immediately, but they’re also more detailed and more accurate than the traditional films. Images with higher resolution provide more clarity and more detailed information about specific parts of your anatomy. For example, high-quality images mean that even the smallest of fractures and other abnormalities can be spotted 一 and they might otherwise have been missed on a film X-ray.

High-resolution images paired with advanced software can provide even more information. With the right software, our team can enlarge specific areas or the image for a deeper study and analysis, if needed. 

In turn, this can improve diagnoses and better shape your treatment plan. 

4. Digital X-rays allow for convenient (and safer) file sharing

We know that many treatment plans for advanced diseases, such as cancer, require close networking between different health care provider teams. Digital X-rays allow us to quickly and safely share the image files with other providers on your team in a HIPAA-compliant manner.

Because we no longer store physical X-ray images on our site, there’s no fear of theft or loss of images due to fire.

Get the expert radiology you need

Here in our Houston, Texas, office, we understand that getting an X-ray isn’t always at the top of your to-do list. Maybe you’re hurting from a suspected fracture. Maybe you’re waiting on your X-ray to rule out osteoporosis. Yet, an X-ray is often a critical step in helping you feel better. Regardless of why you need an X-ray, know that a compassionate and expert team excels at radiology, so we can get you highly detailed images in an efficient manner so you can get on with your treatment plan.

If you need to schedule an appointment or you’d like to learn more about our radiology services, give us a call at 713-781-6200.