A skeletal x-ray is used to detect fractures, tumors, or degenerative conditions of the bone.
Alternative Names:
Skeletal survey
How the test is performed:
The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider’s office by an x-ray technologist. The bone to be x-rayed is positioned on the table. Or, the patient may stand in different positions depending on the x-ray being taken. The pictures are then taken. The bone may be repositioned for different views.
Normally, an x-ray focuses on a particular area of concern, but with a skeletal survey, all areas are imaged.
How to prepare for the test:
Tell the health care provider if you are pregnant. You must remove all jewelry.
How the test will feel:
The x-rays themselves are painless. However, repositioning the bones may be uncomfortable. If the entire body is being evaluated, the test usually takes an hour or more.
Review Date: 7/18/2007
Reviewed By: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Diagnostic Imaging
