My husband has problems with his back for years. Few days ago he had to visit out doctor again because of terrible pain. Doctor didn’t tell him anything, but he has to do thoracic spine X-ray. We would like to know something about it. How this test is performed and how he should prepare for that day?
His doctor is going to do vertebral radiography or as you said thoracic spine x-ray. This is just other term for the same procedure, such as X-ray spine, spine x-ray, thoracic spine films and back films. Thoracic spine X-ray is an X-ray of the 12 chest or thoracic vertebrae. There are flat pads of cartilage that cushion the vertebrae. Test is performed in hospital radiology department or in the health care provider’s office. Thoracic spine x-ray is done by an x-ray technician. He will be asked to lie on the x-ray table and assume various positions. It his was taken to determine an injury, care will be taken to prevent further injury. Machine will be positioned over area of thoracic spine and they will take few pictures. Preparing is just to remove jewelry.