A chest X-ray is an imaging test that makes use of small amounts of radiation to produce pictures of the tissues, bones, and organs of the body. When used on the chest, it is used to spot diseases or abnormalities of the airways, bones, heart, lungs, and the blood vessels.
An abnormal chest X-ray reading might indicate there is a possible problem in the chest. A chest X-ray can be ordered for various reasons. For instance, it can be used to assess injuries resulting from an accident or monitor the progression of a certain condition like cystic fibrosis.
Any abnormal chest X-ray finding will be looked into to identify any underlying conditions so it can be addressed accordingly. A chest X-ray is quick, easy and effective. It has been used for decades now to help doctors view some of the body’s most vital organs.
Chest X-rays will require very minimal preparation. Prior to the procedure, patients will be asked to remove any body piercings, eyeglasses, jewelry, and other metals the individuals may be wearing.
Patients with any implanted device like pacemaker or heart valve should tell the individual performing the procedure. It is possible that you can still go through with the procedure even with metal implants. However, other scans like MRIs may be risky for those who have metal in their bodies.
X-ray is carried out in a special room with a movable camera that is attached to a metal arm. You will be standing next to a “plate.” The plate contains a special sensor or an X-ray film that records the images taken on a computer.
A front and side view of the chest will be taken. While the images are taken, you need to hold your breath so the chest remains completely still. Any movement while the images are taken might turn out blurry.
As the radiation passes through the body, bones, muscles of the heart, and other dense materials will appear white. After the images have been captured successfully, the procedure is complete and you can change back into your clothes and go about your day. The whole process will only take around 20 minutes from start to finish.
X-rays are not recommended for pregnant women as the radiation might cause harm to the unborn baby. If you suspect you are pregnant, it is recommended that you tell your doctor first before agreeing to a chest X-ray.
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Introduction
Resident Physician Dr Elizabeth Heah graduated from the University of Manchester in 2018. She has since been practicing in Singapore, with experience from Singapore restructured hospitals in the departments of General Surgery, Internal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is passionate about preventative medicine and adopts a holistic approach to healthcare. Outside of medicine she enjoys practicing yoga, interior design and pottery. |
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Introduction
Consultant Radiologist He was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Medical Scholarship in 2001 to study Medicine at the National University of Singapore and attained his MBBS in 2006. Dr Low then trained and obtained his post-graduate qualifications in Diagnostic Radiology FRCR (UK) and MMed (Spore) in 2012. In 2016, he was awarded the Health Manpower Development Program (HMDP) fellowship by the Singapore Armed Forces to train in Musculoskeletal and Interventional Radiology at Vancouver General Hospital and the University of British Columbia in Canada. Under the mentorship of Prof Peter Munk, Prof Bruce Forster and Prof Hugue Ouellette, the fellowship centred on advanced musculoskeletal imaging, sports imaging and musculoskeletal interventions. Upon his return to Singapore and during his tenure as Consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, he started several interventional programmes for tumour ablations (for both palliative and benign), vertebroplasties, hydrodilatation clinics for adhesive capsulitis and other musculoskeletal ultrasound-guided procedures. |
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Introduction
Consultant Radiologist Clinical Interest & Subspecialty: Neuroradiology (Brain, Head & Neck, Spine) and Neurointervention Dr Santhosh Raj is a Consultant Radiologist with 20 years of experience in radiology. He graduated from Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2002 and obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (U.K.) in 2008. Upon completing the Advanced Specialist Training (AST) in Singapore in 2013, he joined the Neuroradiology subspecialty team at Singapore General Hospital. In 2015, he completed his training in Neurointervention at the National Institute of Clinical Neurosciences in Budapest, Hungary, through the SingHealth Health Manpower Development Program (HMDP) fellowship. In addition to his routine work, Dr Santhosh also reports MRI Brain Volumetry scans that are used to assess structural brain degeneration, particularly Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). He also reports Ultra Low-Dose (Submilisievert) CT Lung, which allows lung screening at doses lower than routine lung screening CT scans. Other innovative imaging scans that he developed in the past include Intracranial Vessel Wall Imaging (3T MRI), an optimized CT Arterio-Venography (CTAV) of the brain, and an optimized Multiphasic CT Angiography of the Neck and Brain (acute stroke management). His past appointments include Deputy Director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SGH), and Director of Radiology Training (SGH). He was also Clinical Lecturer at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS), and Adjunct Assistant Professor at Duke NUS. Dr Santhosh is particularly interested in imaging informatics and artificial intelligence (AI). He is passionate about teaching and developing innovative imaging scans. He also loves to walk and spend quality time with his family. |