One of the informative diagnostic methods is fluorography of the lungs. This technique is included in the program of mandatory professional examinations. If certain symptoms appear, the doctor may prescribe fluorography unscheduled. This allows you to identify diseases in the chest area at an early stage of development. What is the procedure, its features, interpretation of the results - all this will be discussed in detail below.
General Description
Lung fluorography is a diagnostic and preventive method that allows you to examine the organs of the chest. This is a screening study. It can be prescribed when certain symptoms appear that indicate the development of a particular disease.
The presented diagnostic method appeared quite a long time ago. It was first applied in 1896. At that time it was used fordiagnosis of tuberculosis. Since then, the technology for performing fluorography has improved significantly. Modern methods of diagnostics are superior to those methods that were used in the past in a number of indicators.
In Russia, fluorography began to be widely used to detect tuberculosis in the early stages in the 40s of the last century. It was an efficient and informative procedure. Its mass use stimulated the development of the technical base. New optics, screens and generators appeared. Fluorography was introduced into medical practice everywhere.
Today, almost any clinic does this procedure. A snapshot of the fluorography of the lungs today can be obtained in digital or classical form. The procedure has several names. It is also called X-ray fluorography, radio photography or X-ray photography. However, there is a difference between fluorography and radiography.
Distinguishing Features
The concept of fluorography or x-ray of the lungs is somewhat different. However, many believe that these are two identical concepts. Classical fluorography is characterized by low cost and low radiation dose. However, the quality of the images obtained during such a procedure will be worse than that of radiography. It has to do with their permission.
Fluorography provides images whose quality suggests the presence of pathology. If this is the case, then the patient will need to undergo a chest x-ray to make a diagnosis. This technique allows you to get large pictures, qualitywhich will be much higher. Fluorography refers, rather, to preventive methods. It is easy to carry out for a large number of people, which is essential when passing medical examinations.
When asking how often a chest x-ray can be done, one should consider the radiation dose of the procedure. It can be compared with the natural radiation that a person receives throughout the year. So, with fluorography, the body receives a dose of radiation the same as for 10 days in vivo. It is 0.2-0.25 mSv. When X-raying the lungs, a person receives a radiation dose of 1.5 times more.
According to established standards, a person can receive a radiation dose in the process of X-rays equal to 1 mSv per year. If no more such diagnostic actions are applied throughout the year, then fluorography can be done 4-5 times, and radiography of the lungs only 2-3 times.
However, it is worth noting that classical film fluorography today is practically a thing of the past. Modern clinics perform this procedure on digital equipment. The radiation dose in this case is only 0.03-0.06 mSv. This procedure is also called fluorography today. Therefore, the difference between such procedures in modern conditions has practically disappeared.
How often should I get tested?
When asking how often you can do a fluorography of the lungs, you should consider the indications for the examination. The number of examinations per year depends on the type of equipment and radiation dose. Also take into account which x-ray andhow many times did a person. For example, after a computed tomography, any x-ray is not recommended for the next year. If, however, an x-ray of a tooth was taken in dentistry, the dose of radiation would be negligible.
The presented procedure can be performed for the purpose of prevention or diagnosis. In the first case, fluorography is done as part of examinations during a physical examination. For representatives of different professions, the mandatory frequency of such examinations is reduced.
So, non-working citizens should do x-rays every 2 years. Most professions require the passage of such an examination once a year. It is mandatory for employees of children's educational institutions, medical, he alth organizations. Also, a similar procedure is indicated for people who have chronic diseases of the lungs, genitourinary system or suffer from diabetes. When undergoing radiation or corticosteroid therapy, it is also necessary to do a fluorography once a year.
Twice a year representatives of certain professions should undergo a similar examination. These include military personnel, employees of tuberculosis dispensaries, maternity hospitals. This rule also applies to people who have had tuberculosis, or HIV-infected people. Convicts who are held in prisons also undergo x-rays twice a year.
Indications
Lung fluorography is performed not only for preventive purposes, but also for diagnostic purposes. When chest pain occurs,prolonged cough, as well as shortness of breath, the doctor will refer the patient for an x-ray examination. This is an informative examination (during the operation of modern equipment), which allows diagnosing pneumonia, tuberculosis, inflammation of the respiratory system, pleural lesions, neoplasms, emphysema.
People who live in the same house with pregnant women will also need to undergo fluorography. This is a mandatory procedure for all adult residents of the apartment.
Fluorography allows you to detect foreign objects in the chest, heart disease, as well as large vessels. When using modern equipment, one can also observe accumulations of gases or infiltration, cavities of a non-physiological nature.
This procedure does not require preparation. However, it is worth considering that the fluorography of the lungs of a smoker is significantly different from the chest images of non-smokers. You will need to give up cigarettes for at least 2 hours before the procedure. Smoking constricts blood vessels. This will be visible in the picture. In this case, the pattern of fabrics will be changed. This can be perceived as a pathology when deciphered.
Contraindications
Fluorography of he althy lungs has certain characteristic features. A doctor with a high degree of probability will be able to determine the presence of certain pathologies. However, not every person can undergo fluorography. There are a number of contraindications.
So, such an examination is notcarried out for pregnant women and children under 15 years of age. These contraindications are relative. If there is no other way to diagnose the disease, the procedure is carried out for both children and pregnant women.
The fact is that the radiation that enters the body during the snapshot affects young, developing cells. Therefore, practically nothing threatens an adult male when exposed to a standard dose. A pregnant woman who bears a child is in a state of restructuring of body systems. In this case, the fetus is constantly developing. If the baby is exposed to radiation during pregnancy, it can lead to serious pathologies and developmental abnormalities.
Therefore, a similar procedure is carried out no earlier than at the 25th week of pregnancy, while using special protective equipment. In childhood, x-rays are not safe for the same reasons.
How do they do it?
Decoding of fluorography of the lungs is carried out immediately after receiving the images or within a few days. It depends on the type of equipment and the characteristics of the examination.
To undergo a fluorography, you will need to go to a private or public clinic. The doctor first fills in the patient's passport data. You must also have a referral from the attending physician, a medical book. After filling in the required form, the patient is offered to go to the office.
Here you need to remove clothes from the upper body. All metal objects (accessories, jewelry) must also be removed. If there are earrings on the ears, they can be left. Butall items are removed from the neck.
Next, the patient stands on a special platform. He turns around to face a special plate. This is the screen that receives the rays from the x-ray machine. There is a chin rest for the chin. This allows you to take the correct position of the body. The doctor adjusts the height of the screen.
Next, the patient is pressed tightly against the plate with the chest. At the command of the doctor, you need to take a deep breath. A few seconds remain in this position. You can't move while doing this. At this point, the equipment directs the X-ray beam at the patient. The resulting image is either left on film or transferred to a computer screen.
Knowing how lung fluorography is done, you can review the features of decoding the result.
Result
Will fluorography show pneumonia or other pathologies with a high degree of probability? The answer to this question depends on the quality of the equipment and the professionalism of the doctors. False positive or false negative results are extremely rare today. This is due to certain physiological characteristics of the patient, as well as the quality of the images.
The density of body tissues is not the same. The stronger they are, the brighter the image in the picture will be. Every radiologist knows what he althy tissue looks like. But sometimes an uncharacteristic darkening in the lungs on fluorography can be determined. What it is, only a professional can answer. Sometimes an additional examination is required.
Often picturedchanges are visible that are caused by an atypical proliferation of connective tissue. To determine which category of pathologies this disease belongs to, the doctor evaluates the location of such a change. It can be fibrosis, sclerosis, radiance, shadows, scarring, etc.
You can also observe the thickening of the walls of the bronchi, blood vessels. Cavities in the lungs, especially those containing fluid, are also clearly visible in the picture. It is worth considering that not all pathological changes are visible in the picture.
Spotted shadows, heavy roots
Will fluorography show pneumonia? This question interests some patients. It is worth noting that such a pathology is far from always possible to determine using the presented diagnostic method.
However, there are a number of deviations that are clearly visible in the pictures. These include focal shadows. If they develop in the lower part of the lungs, they are most likely pneumonia. But the doctor makes the final diagnosis. In this case, the shadows can have a diameter of up to 10 mm. If such shadows are accompanied by an increase in the vascular pattern, have uneven edges, and you can also observe the connection of several spots, the doctor makes a final diagnosis. It's pneumonia.
Sometimes the upper darkening in the lungs is determined on fluorography. What it is, will also allow you to answer the kind of image. This is often a symptom of TB.
When receiving the result "tight roots", the doctor may say that the patient is suffering from bronchitis or other acute inflammatory disease. A similar picture is alsocharacteristic of a snapshot of the lungs of people who smoke.
Pleuroapical stratification, sinus, adhesions and diaphragmatic changes
There are a number of objects that are not evidence of pathology. One of them is the pleuroapical layering. It indicates past illnesses (tuberculosis). Also adhesions belong to such formations. They are caused by a previous inflammatory disease.
Changes in the diaphragm can be caused by obesity, diseases of the digestive tract or pleurisy. In some cases, this is a hereditary pathology.
He althy lungs are characterized by the presence of free sinuses. If they are sealed, this indicates the development of pathology. Such folds may also be filled with liquid. This situation requires immediate treatment.
Mediastinal displacement
Does fluorography always show lung cancer? This is only possible using very precise equipment with a large expansion. Then such a pathology can be seen at an early stage. The worse the picture, the more likely it is not to notice the neoplasm. Mediastinal displacement, which is observed on the one hand, can be determined in the presence of a similar disease.
However, this condition of the tissues can also be determined by the accumulation of fluid, air. In any case, such a condition requires immediate correction, additional diagnostics.
Having considered the features of lung fluorography, one can understand the importance of this diagnostic method. This procedure is mandatory during the inspection. Also, new equipment makes fluorography informativediagnostic method for a number of diseases.
