Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a study of moving body structures, similar to an x-ray "movie." A continuous x-ray beam is passed through the body part being examined, such as blood traveling through a blood vessel, the diaphragm moving up and down, or food moving through the digestive tract, and is transmitted to a TV-like monitor so that the body part and its motion can be seen in detail. It also can be used to help a health professional locate a foreign object in the body, position a catheter or needle for a procedure, or realign a broken bone.

Fluoroscopy of lower intestine tract.

Fluoroscopy can deliver more radiation than conventional X-rays. A dye (contrast material) that shows up on X-rays can be injected or swallowed during fluoroscopy to outline blood vessels or organs.

Fluoroscopy usually is done during other diagnostic procedures. For example, fluoroscopy is done during cardiac catheterization to evaluate the condition of the coronary arteries and the flow of blood through them. Fluoroscopy may also be used to evaluate the condition of the urinary tract or (during an upper gastrointestinal series) the digestive tract. It may also be done during a hysterosalpingogram to evaluate a woman's reproductive organs.

Fluoroscopy may be done to:

Screen for and help guide treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD). During cardiac catheterization, fluoroscopy is used to see the condition of the coronary arteries. For more information, see the medical test Cardiac Catheterization.
Assess lung expansion and contraction during quiet breathing, deep breathing, or coughing. Fluoroscopy can detect uneven or decreased movement of the diaphragm.
Evaluate blood flow through an artery. Fluoroscopy is done during a diagnostic test called angiography to evaluate possible problems with blood vessels that affect blood flow. For more information, see the medical test Angiogram.
Guide some diagnostic and surgical procedures, such as the placement of a catheter during angiography, the insertion of a needle for biopsy, the removal of fluid from a body cavity, or the insertion of a tube into the stomach or small bowel. Fluoroscopy also may be used to help identify and remove a foreign object from the body. It also allows for many minimally invasive treatments of the heart, such as angioplasty.
Help diagnose some diseases or conditions of the digestive tract, such as ulcerative colitis, tumors, bleeding, bowel obstruction, or an abdominal hernia. When used to evaluate the stomach, esophagus, and duodenum, fluoroscopy is done with an upper gastrointestinal series. Fluoroscopy is done during a barium enema to evaluate the large intestine or during an X-ray test (called small bowel studies) to assess the small intestine. For more information, see the medical tests Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) Series and Barium Enema.
Evaluate the urinary tract. Fluoroscopy may be used during a test called a retrograde ureteropyelography to evaluate the structure and function of the urinary tract. It sometimes is used during intravenous pyelography (IVP). For more information, see the medical test Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP).
Evaluate a woman's uterus and fallopian tubes. During hysterosalpingography, an X-ray test to assess a woman's reproductive organs, fluoroscopy may be used to identify problems with the uterus or to help detect a blocked fallopian tube. Hysterosalpingography is often done for a woman who is having difficulty becoming pregnant. For more information, see the medical test Hysterosalpingogram.
Treat bone fractures. Fluoroscopy can be used during orthopedic surgery to help a health professional realign a fractured bone or to place a pin in a fractured bone. A radiologist may use fluoroscopy to assess whether a bone fracture is healing properly.