The technologist positions the patient, places a flat image plate under the table or directly under the area of the body to be imaged. Depending on the body site, imaging can be performed standing, sitting or lying down.
The technologist goes to a small adjacent room and asks the patient to hold very still without breathing for a few seconds.
The radiographic equipment is activated, sending a beam of x-rays through the body to expose the film. The technologist then repositions the patient for another view, and the process is repeated. Usually, an x-ray examination takes less than 15 minutes.
When the x-rays are completed you will be asked to wait a short time until the technologist reviews the images to determine if more are needed.