Tip: Ask a friend or relative to be your support person and advocate. They can help you ask questions, write down answers and reassure you.

Fact: The amount of radiation you get from an X-ray is small. Ultrasound X-ray For example, a chest X-ray gives What is it? Uses a small amount of out a radiation dose similar to What is it? Uses sound waves to create an image. Does not expose you to radiation. radiation to take pictures inside the amount of radiation you're allergy your body naturally exposed to from the Used for? Diagnosing conditions of the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, Used for? Diagnosing broken bones, environment over 10 days. liver, and other organs. During pregnancy, a health care provider uses pneumonia, dental problems. an ultrasound to look at the baby. Mammograms are a common type of What happens? You lie on a table. The person giving the test X-ray used to help diagnose breast cancer. places gel and a device called a transducer on your skin. What happens? You may be asked to The transducer sends out sound waves that bounce off tissues lie still on an X-ray table or sit or stand inside your body. by the table. You may wear a lead apron (magnetic to protect certain parts of your body. MRI resonance imaging) What is it? Uses a large magnet and radio waves to look inside your body. allergy ™ Does not expose you to radiation. Used for? Diagnosing torn ligaments, tumors, brain or spinal cord conditions, SpeakUp: examining organs What happens? You lie still on a table that slides inside a tunnel-shaped machine. CT or CAT scan X-rays, MRIs and other You may have to hold your breath for parts (computed tomography) of the exam. For some MRI scans you may receive a “contrast dye,” which Tip: The MRI What is it? Uses special X-ray medical imaging tests makes parts of your body show up makes a lot of noise. equipment to take pictures that better. The dye can be given through You may be show a “slice” of your body Medical imaging tests help • Why do you need this test? an intravenous (IV) tube or a syringe offered earplugs. Used for? Diagnosing broken bones, diagnose health problems. • Does this test use radiation? in your arm. Some dye is given in a drink. allergy cancer, blood clots, abdominal Some tests use radiation. • Is there another test that does not use Tell your health care provider if you fear small or enclosed conditions, internal bleeding Radiation is useful, even radiation? spaces, or if you have: What happens? You lie still on a • What can you expect during the test? life-saving, but too much • Metal in your body, such as shrapnel, a bullet, artificial joints or stents table and may have to hold your • What should you do to prepare for the test? can be harmful. • Electronic devices in your body, such as a cardiac pacemaker or breath for a short time. The CT • Does the health care provider’s office keep implanted pump machine is aimed at the part of Ask your health care track of your medical imaging tests? You should • Body piercings with metal that cannot be removed your body the health care provider provider: also keep copies for your files. • Ever been a welder needs to see. For some CT scans • Does the hospital or imaging center use the you may receive a “contrast dye,” lowest amount of radiation needed to get which makes parts of your body information – especially for children? show up better. The dye may be given • Is the hospital or imaging center through an intravenous (IV) tube or a accredited? syringe in your arm. Some dye is given in a drink. Nuclear scans What is it? Uses radioactive substances and a special camera to see inside your body. These This test exposes you to radiation. For more information allergy scans can show how organs, such as your heart and lungs, are working. Image Gently (for children): www.imagegently.org Tell the person giving you the test if you Used for? Diagnosing blood clots, have allergies to the medicines, dyes cancer, heart disease, injuries, Image Wisely (for adults): www.imagewisely.org allergy or gels. infections, thyroid problems RadiologyInfo: www.radiologyinfo.org What happens? Before the test, Tell the person giving you the test if you Society for Pediatric Radiology: www.pedrad.org you receive a small amount of are, or may be, pregnant. radioactive material, which makes The goal of Speak Up™ is to help patients become parts of your body show up better. active in their care. The material can be given through an intravenous (IV) tube or a syringe allergy in your arm. Some is given in a drink and sometimes you inhale it. You wait as the material is absorbed by your body. ® www.jointcommission.org This may take an hour or more. Then you lie still on a table while the camera takes images.