home Diseases Fluorography is required by law. Is it possible to do fluorography again? Why do fluorography? Radiation dose during fluorography of the lungs, its consequences. What could be the consequences of frequent visits to sessions?

Fluorography is required by law. Is it possible to do fluorography again? Why do fluorography? Radiation dose during fluorography of the lungs, its consequences. What could be the consequences of frequent visits to sessions?

Fluorography is an effective method of radiographing in which images obtained under the influence of an x-ray are photographed. Tissues of the human body with different densities transmit such radiation to varying degrees. Thanks to this, darker and lighter areas are visible in the image, which depend on the structure of the tissues themselves. But how often can fluorography be done? To answer this question you need to thoroughly understand this topic.

Digital images can be constructed as composite pixels or spatial frequencies. Filtering algorithms operate at pixel or spatial frequencies, but they are much faster at them. One of the interests of image filtering is changing its spatial frequency.

Image smoothing is useful for noisy images or in regions where radiation doses are too low, eliminating high frequencies to allow only low frequencies to pass through. Pixel smoothing uses either the average or median intensity of the pixels in a kernel of a given size around the pixel for smoothing.

In what cases is a fluorogram performed?

The standard fluorography procedure is an examination of the body in the chest area. Based on the results of the studies, diseases of various organs are diagnosed: lungs, heart muscle, mammary glands. A fluorogram can show the following problems:

Tumor;
inflammatory processes (with significant spread);
cavities filled with liquids/gases;
sclerosis;
fibrosis;
foreign parts.

Regularity

Every person needs to understand how many times a year fluorography can be done. Even if you have no symptoms or other infections, having a chest exam every year is recommended. This procedure is also part of a comprehensive therapeutic examination, which allows us to identify the risk of developing various pathologies in the early stages.

Mean-average smoothing tends to smooth out differences in intensity between pixels and blur the outlines of small, well-defined, high-contrast structures. Average neighborhood smoothing aims to reduce gray level fluctuations and keep edges clean. Structures smaller than the size of the nucleus are erased. This type of smoothing can be used when previous neighborhood smoothing is ineffective, to attenuate large gray tone fluctuations due to noise.

There are two main methods for edge enhancement: frequency filtering and spatial filtering. Frequency filtering can suppress low frequencies to allow high frequencies to pass through. Fuzzy mask subtraction. Spatial frequency processing allows for tailoring the frequency response characteristics of radiographic structures. Phospholuminescent plates mainly use nonlinear fuzzy mask technique.

The following categories of people need to be examined every year:

Employees of companies and organizations with professional activities related to the decreed contingent.
All citizens over 40 years of age. This need arises due to the fact that this category has a high risk of infection with tuberculosis or pulmonary malignant tumors.
People with a chronic nonspecific disease related to the respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract and genital organs (diabetes, stomach/intestinal ulcers).
Citizens who have mental disorders, dust lung diseases, hyperergic reactions to the administration of tuberculin.
Persons who abuse alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
Citizens who have been prescribed corticosteroid, radiation or cytostatic therapy.
People belonging to social groups with a high probability of infection with tuberculosis inflammation.
Citizens who live in social premises for helping the homeless/refugees/implanted people.
Persons previously involved in the production of quartz/asbestos dust, the production of carcinogens (nickel, chromium, etc.).
People with residual changes in the lungs or pleura of non-tuberculous origin.
Citizens who have close and prolonged contact with pregnant women and newborn children, as well as persons surrounded by children and adolescents being tested.
For teenagers in case of conscription for military service, a fluorogram is cut out and attached to the documents submitted to the military registration and enlistment office.
Persons who live in social hostels.
Citizens undergoing training from educational institutions (secondary and highest categories).

Often the answer to the question “how often should fluorography be done” is “twice a year”. This need arises among the following groups of people:

The fuzzy mask method is expressed by the equation. The fuzzy mask method is performed in two stages. In the first stage, a clean image in which edges are enhanced is obtained by subtracting a mask, which is a fuzzy image obtained from the original image, from the original image. The spatial frequencies of the edge image depend on the degree of blur of the mask. The blur of the mask depends on the size of the kernel blurred by averaging the pixels of that kernel. Low frequencies are boosted by a large mask and high frequencies by a small mask.

The gain can be numerical and independent or dependent on the signal level in the original image kernel. Low gain is used for low x-ray and high x-ray areas. high attenuation. This nonlinear processing reduces noise in low-attenuation areas and enhances contrast in high-attenuation areas. Overall, low-frequency structures are attenuated, and detection of low-contrast and angular structures is improved. The Small Core tends to sharpen the edges of linear structures.

Military personnel serving on the basis of conscription based on age.
Maternity hospital employees who spend a lot of time with expectant mothers and babies.
Persons with close relatives or work colleagues who are sick.
Citizens who have previously suffered tuberculous inflammation with residual changes in the lungs. This need lasts for the first 3 years after diagnosis of the disease.
People who have recovered from tuberculosis and were deregistered from the tuberculosis dispensary.
Persons who have been released from prison must have their health checked for 2 years.
Citizens under investigation in pre-trial detention centers and convicts held in correctional colonies.
HIV-infected people.
Patients who are registered with narcologists or psychiatrists.

In addition to the scheduled preventive examination, an extraordinary fluorogram is indicated for the following groups of people:

The Large Nucleus tends to emphasize the intensity of various structures down to the size of the nucleus. Explicitly masking blur can create a dark halo artifact in steep transition zones between low- and high-intensity areas of the image.

Comparing several masks of different sizes gives an advantage to large size masks over small masks. Large mask filtering is most suitable for better simultaneous vision of linear, nodal and micronodular images of the chest. Moderate gain is most appropriate, and designers express this type of treatment differently using a fuzzy mask in terms of kernel size, frequency, and sigma value.

People aged 15 to 40 years who are admitted to hospital treatment or are visiting medical institutions for the first time for the current year.
Citizens over 15 years of age who are entering study/work.
Persons who care for their children in children's hospitals.
Citizens coming from other countries/regions to enter a university or to work.
People who are diagnosed with HIV infection for the first time.

How often should fluorography be done for adults who do not belong to high-risk groups and the decreed population? In this case, the regularity of fluorograms is 1.5-2 years. If you have had long-term close contact with people infected with tuberculosis infection, then this kind of x-ray should be carried out every six months.

Variations in the use of the fuzzy mask have been described: Abe, using a histogram of a digitized image of the chest, divided the chest into three regions: the lungs, the retrocardial region and the spine and diaphragm. An adapted blur mask is then automatically applied to each of these areas, improving their analysis. This technology has effects and results similar to dynamic scale compression.

Dynamic scale compression. Dynamic scale compression extracts numerical information from the white and black areas of an image. In Diagram 3, the ladder function simulates large anatomical structures such as the heart, lungs, and mediastinum, the coordinates of which are shown on the x-axis.

Fluorogram safety

Many people, when asked the question “how many times can you do fluorography,” answer “when you want to check your health.” But such a procedure can cause quite serious harm to the human body.

When smoothing is performed, small changes in the signal are suppressed. As a result, the signal of low-density zones is amplified and the dynamic scale is narrowed, leaving small signal variations as well as differences in contrast. Applying function 3a to function 3a, we obtain compression of high-density regions, which leads to a decrease in the densities of high-density regions.

In addition to irradiation, selenium is an insulator that has the property of photoconductivity. When irradiated, it has electrical conductivity proportional to the intensity of irradiation. This property is used to convert radiation directly into an electrical signal. Three sequential steps allow the image to be formed: first, a cylinder of selenium is loaded, then it is irradiated, and finally it is read to extract information. The first step is to prepare the cylinder. This discharge carries a high positive electrical potential at the same time that the opposite polarity is applied to the aluminum substrate: the result is a strong electric field in the selenium that charges it.

If radiographic examinations are carried out every 12 months, the dosage of radioactive exposure will be relatively low, and such procedures will in no way affect your body. Therefore, fluorograms are often indicated only when absolutely necessary.

Now you know how often you can do fluorography of the lungs, so you can correctly calculate whether the annual amount of x-ray exposure has been exceeded.

The second step is the actual exposure through irradiation. X photons are absorbed into the selenium layer, which releases electrons. These free electrons, under the influence of an electric field, pass to the surface of the selenium layer, where they neutralize part of the deposited positive charge. This reduces the local surface charge by a greater or lesser intensity proportional to the irradiation intensity. Thus, the latent image is created as a set of charges on the selenium surface.

In the third stage, the rotation of the cylinder is accelerated and the electrical charges are scanned and converted into a digital signal. The scanning is performed without physical contact, but with 36 electrometers at a distance of about 100 microns from the surface. The resulting signal is amplified, digitized and transmitted to the processor. The selenium layer can then be recharged for the next collection. Image processing is carried out in accordance with the same principles as photo-shooting screens.

Fluorography is a universal tool for diagnosing diseases lungs and heart. It is regularly prescribed to citizens who have reached 18 years.

The main federal regulatory document is often mistakenly considered Law No. 77 of 2001 “On preventing the spread of tuberculosis in the Russian Federation.” In fact, in the text of this document there is no mention of fluorography as a method of preventing and diagnosing tuberculosis.

To charge the cylinder, an electric shock is applied while the cylinder is slowly rotated. When the cylinder surface is fully loaded uniformly, the rotational motion stops and exposure can be made. After the cylinder is exposed, it accelerates at high speed, and the reading by capacitors can do. This is done in 9 seconds. The sensors slide slowly in a direction parallel to the cylinder axis, creating a helical sensing of the surface, the resolution is 0.2 mm and the signal is converted to 8-bit depth. the image on the cylindrical detector is corrected to make a matrix plane.

What does the law require for fluorography?

In Russia since 2012 valid Law No. 1011n “On approval of the Procedure for conducting preventive medical examinations”. It is intended for the earliest possible detection of latent forms of diseases and requires individuals to undergo a medical examination over 18 years old periodically 1 time every 2 years.

The selenium detection curve is almost parallel to the 100% ideal line: it is removed from the ideal line because the 500 µm selenium layer is not thick enough to absorb all the X-rays. Phospholuminescent plates are a little further from this ideal curve because they have noise inherent in the thickness of the europium fluorescent layer. The performance of film screens is lower than the photostimulated plates themselves, lower than the selenium receptors. In addition, these latter two types of receptors have an almost linear response over a wide irradiation range, whereas film screen vapors have significant efficiency in a limited irradiation area.

When to get checked

The regulatory act classifies fluorography of the lungs as mandatory event during medical examination. Diagnostics need not be made if there is documentary evidence that the patient has undergone fluorography during the last year.

The retrodiaphragmatic and retrocardial regions, cheils, superior mediastinum, ribs and soft tissues are especially well analyzed. Other methods of scanning images are available. They have advantages and disadvantages depending on the regions studied. With the chest, the rib cage requires the highest spatial resolution.

The X-ray beam equation is not a digital radiology system, but can support phospholuminescent plates. Two systems allow the radiation intensity to be adapted to the radiographic area. Spot or linear measurement of the X-ray beam transmitted through the patient allows you to adjust the radiation intensity and even out the blackening of the film.

The same restriction applies if there are current X-ray data or chest computed tomography readings.

The standards may be revised in case of individual need or if an epidemiological situation arises. The study is carried out as part of compulsory health insurance and is free for the patient.

The duration of radiation is too long for a chest x-ray. Both systems use electronics that equalize the intensity of the transmitted beam, but both affect conventional film and do not produce a digital image, however, instead of printing the film, a phospholuminescent plate can be irradiated. This improves image quality and creates a high-quality digital image.

Long developed and used in digital angiography, digital fluorography is unsuitable for chest radiography. The scintillator-photodiode array provides insufficient pixel size in chest radiography, but the potential of this technique is very high for imaging with flat panel detectors.

Currently in development is the order of the Ministry of Health No. 124 n “On approval of the procedure and timing of preventive medical examinations of citizens in order to detect tuberculosis,” regulating and fluorographic control. The law may come into force in 2018 and will replace the legal act No. 77 of 2001

How often should fluorography be done: table

Order of the Ministry of Health on mandatory fluorography

In accordance with by order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 302 n of 2011, medical employees at all levels are required to undergo fluorography upon entry to work, and then periodically 1 time per year.

X-ray film scanning can be done in several ways. The limits are close to , but the possibilities for image processing and remote transmission are very interesting. Microdensitometry scanning uses a high-intensity laser and a photomultiplier tube to accurately measure the optical density of each point on the film. This is a very interesting process for digitizing images that are originally analog and is suitable for film based images. The possibilities of processing a digital image and “catching up” with the initial non-digital image are very great. to evaluate diagnostic capabilities and digital image processing capabilities.

The same requirement applies to service personnel of medical institutions.

Photo 1. Sample of a certificate issued upon successful completion of fluorography.

Fluorographic examination is mandatory for employees of children's organizations and catering establishments, as well as companies with a social service profile.

Such a scan can be the starting point for remote transmission when the laser or scanner is connected to a computer with a modem. This system, developed by Professor Sharpak, is currently under evaluation and its resolution is currently insufficient for primary diagnosis on chest x-ray. However, its principle presupposes a promising future. The big advantage of this system is the very significant reduction in radiation exposure with less scattered radiation and greater image latitude.

For a chest x-ray, the radiation will be divided into 3-2 times. At the moment, this method can be indicated when monitoring already known thoracic pathology. Digital images can be reproduced and analyzed on screen or film. Screen analysis can make films disappear and allow them to be replaced by electronic film cameras, which must be easy to use, easy to use and have sufficient resolution. The film and high-definition screen rendering scores are equal to the film readings or even higher in Radiopedia.

Is it possible by law to refuse to conduct

Fluorography cannot be performed forcibly. The exception is unfavorable epidemiological situation or incapacity(inability to make informed independent decisions) of the patient.

The question of how often fluorography can be performed worries many people. There is a widespread belief among people that this procedure is dangerous to health, since the body is exposed to radiation. Doctors assure that this procedure is safe and fluorography can be done once a year, and according to the doctor’s indications, more often. It should be taken into account that there are a number of contraindications to this examination method. Fluorography should not be performed on children under 15 years of age, pregnant women and cancer patients.. In some cases, the examination is carried out even in the presence of contraindications, if the benefits of the procedure are higher than the possible harm.

Is fluorography harmful?

Of course, fluorography of the lungs is far from a safe procedure, since x-rays are used to examine the chest. However, we must not forget that radiation doses can be different, some of them have a detrimental effect on the human body, while others do not cause any harm.

The safe dose of radiation for humans is considered to be 5 mSv per year. For comparison, when conducting an X-ray examination, one dose is 0.03-0.08 mSv. Such indicators may differ depending on the type of examination and the modernity of the equipment used.

Currently, it is possible to examine the chest for pathologies using a minimal dose of radiation. Modern fluorographic devices emit only 0.002 mSv. This value is close to natural radioactive radiation, which affects humans every day.

Even a figure of 0.08 mSv is very far from the value at which irreparable damage can be caused to health. In many cases, people themselves tune into negative thoughts before such an examination and thereby have a negative impact on their health.

It has been revealed that people who make long flights on airplanes receive a radiation dose of 0.03-0.05 mSv. This corresponds to radiation exposure during fluorography. Interestingly, airplanes are not considered a source of radiation.

How many times a year can fluorography of the lungs be done?

Fluorography is no more dangerous than tanning in a solarium. In both cases, it is important to comply with the radiation dose. And if you can do without tanning in a solarium, then you should undergo fluorography once a year in order to promptly identify dangerous pathologies.

According to the approved law, fluorography must be done once a year. But if someone in the family suffers from tuberculosis, then such an examination is done twice a year. As a result, this type of chest examination helps to identify various pathologies in the early stages and begin their treatment in a timely manner.

The danger of exposure to low doses of radiation is not as great as the danger of failure to timely diagnose dangerous diseases.

Why you can’t do fluorography often

A person is constantly exposed to radiation. Over the course of a year, the total dose of radiation received is 2-3 mSv. This indicator consists of the action of sunlight, natural and artificial radionuclides. For adults, it is permissible to undergo fluorography 2 times a year; for children over 15 years of age, the examination is allowed only once a year.

It is worth considering that modern digital devices give a minimal dose of radiation, but film devices, which are available in some clinics, give a radiation dose of 0.8 mzV.

After conducting a fluorographic examination, the doctor writes on the certificate what dose of radiation the person received. All indicators for the year are summarized, and when scheduling the next examination, the doctor looks at the previous one.

If a person frequently undergoes fluorography, radiation will accumulate in the body. This can lead to irreversible consequences.

What does FLG reveal?

Fluorography is needed to identify dangerous pathologies of the chest. During the procedure, a minimal dose of X-rays is passed through the human body. Using this type of examination, the following pathologies can be diagnosed:

Tuberculosis.
Pneumonia.
Oncological pathologists and lungs.
Pleurisy.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Using the images, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment. If a person has tuberculosis, then this type of research allows him to be isolated in a timely manner and prevent infection of others.

Fluorography takes only a short time. An appointment with one patient does not exceed 5 minutes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the survey

FLG has a number of advantages and disadvantages. The positive aspects of this type of chest examination can be highlighted as follows:

Low cost. In many district clinics, FLG can be performed completely free of charge.
When using digital devices, the harm from the procedure is minimal.
The procedure goes very quickly. It takes about 2 minutes to examine a person. Taking into account undressing and dressing, it takes approximately 5 minutes.
The procedure is completely painless. There is no need to take any medications or perform additional manipulations before the procedure. The only thing that can be unpleasant is being pressed with your bare torso against a metal plate.
FLG helps to identify many dangerous diseases at an early stage. This is why it is so important to undergo this procedure once a year.

There are few disadvantages to this research method. First of all, the disadvantage is radiation exposure, but it is negligible, so there will be no harm to health. Another disadvantage is the inability to accurately diagnose the disease. That is, a pathological focus can be seen in the image, but additional examination is necessary to make a diagnosis.

FLG is not prescribed to seriously ill people who cannot hold their breath for a while.

How to reduce the harm of radiation

The harm from FLG can be somewhat reduced if you take 3-4 tablets of activated carbon after the procedure. They are crushed, mixed with a glass of water and drunk. If necessary, you can drink this suspension again after 2-3 hours. This method of reducing the harmful effects of radiation is known to everyone who is in one way or another associated with radiation.

Eating foods rich in fiber can also reduce your exposure to radiation. This includes oatmeal, rice, bran and nuts. It is healthy to eat honey, dairy products, vegetable oil and grapes. To minimize the harm from FLG, you can drink Cahors in small quantities.

It is worth remembering that alcohol such as vodka or cognac does not contribute to the removal of radiation. Only good wine can help.

Who needs to undergo FLG more often

It is not possible to undergo fluorography often, but in some cases this procedure is necessary 2 times a year. This applies to the following categories of people:

Those who have one of their household members or colleagues suffering from tuberculosis.
Some health workers, especially those who work in tuberculosis clinics or maternity hospitals.
Those who have severe chronic diseases - HIV, hepatitis, diabetes or bronchial asthma.

If you have a prolonged cough of unknown etiology, your doctor may also prescribe an unscheduled examination.

Typically, FLG is done only once a year, only in rare cases such an examination is carried out every six months. When undergoing digital fluorography, the health hazard is minimal.

This article provides answers to questions about how often and why such an examination is needed, under what conditions it is contraindicated, and when it is prescribed more often, what harm radiographic diagnostic forms can cause, and how to minimize negative consequences.

The procedure and timing of fluorographic examination of the population are regulated by order of the Ministry of Health. The frequency of preventive examinations is established in accordance with the type of activity and the level of risk of infection of others. Therapists, family doctors, and pediatricians are involved in compiling the contingents. On average, fluorography is done 1-2 times a year. Monitoring the completeness of coverage of this form of diagnosis is the responsibility of an authorized person in the medical institution. The result of the study must be received no later than 24 hours with mandatory registration in the medical documentation. Both the attending physician and the patient must be familiar with the conclusion of the image within three days.

How often can and should you do fluorography?

Fluorography regulated by law and how many times a year it is necessary to undergo it depend on the risk group in relation to the entire population. The following contingents are distinguished:

organized population. The examination is carried out by mobile fluorographic stations;
workers of small enterprises. Fluorography is carried out in the clinic at the place of work;
unorganized population. They are screened at local clinics.

For an adult

The timing of fluorographic examination of the population over 18 years of age depends on the population and the concentration of the population infected with tuberculosis in the country. If the overall incidence is below 40 people per 100 thousand population, housewives, pensioners, and people engaged in individual activities are subject to examination once every 2 years. Students and dormitory residents undergo fluorography once a year.

Certain professions

Additionally, there are mandatory contingents - employees of institutions and professions who are subject to preliminary and periodic medical examinations. They undergo fluorography annually. This group includes workers:

preschool and school children's institutions;
medical and pharmaceutical production;
food industry, working at all stages of preparation and sale of food products;
trade, public transport, water supply.

For children

In vaccinated children, fluorography is permitted from the age of fifteen. However, it can be replaced by immunodiagnosis using a tuberculosis allergen. X-rays are required at age 17 before leaving school.

How long are the results valid?

When compiling groups for fluorography, the timing of the previous study is taken into account. Results are considered valid if they are no more than 6 months old from the date of the previous examination. The conclusion from the image must be included in the medical documentation. In the absence of symptoms of the disease, the next fluorography is prescribed depending on the contingent of the person.

Replay assignment

You will have to undergo a fluorographic examination again if there are pathological shadows and formations on the x-ray image, as well as symptoms of pathology of the respiratory system. Clinical manifestations in the form of cough lasting more than three weeks, low-grade fever, pain when breathing, hemoptysis will require a more detailed X-ray examination. For differential diagnosis between tuberculosis, pneumonia, and lung cancer, a computed tomography scan of the chest organs is done.

Is it possible to do fluorography 2 times a year?

Taking into account concomitant diseases and vaccination status, the doctor may refer you for fluorography 2 times a year. This category includes unvaccinated children from 1 to 17 years old with the following pathologies:

diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2;
nonspecific respiratory diseases;
chronic lesions of the urinary system;
organic and functional diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
undergoing courses of immunosuppressive, cytostatic, genetic engineering and immunobiological therapy.

For social reasons, fluorography is done once every six months: for migrant children, refugees and migrants, as well as those in social organizations.

Among the decreed groups of adults, the following are subject to examination at this frequency:

employees of maternity hospitals, tuberculosis dispensaries and some other types of health care institutions;
persons with human immunodeficiency virus, other chronic diseases (hepatitis, diabetes, bronchial asthma and others);
those who recovered from tuberculosis during the first three years;
persons living and working with a patient undergoing treatment for diagnosed tuberculosis;
persons registered at a drug treatment and psychiatric dispensary;
released from places of imprisonment during the first two years, persons under investigation in a pre-trial detention center, serving a sentence.

Who should be examined more often?

For some individuals, fluorography may vary in frequency. X-ray examination in the individual period is carried out in residents with pregnant women and newborns, children with a tuberculin test, as well as with initially identified bacterial releases of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the environment. Regardless of the timing and results of the previous study, fluorography is performed on persons with a newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus. Additionally, women in labor are also examined before discharge from the maternity hospital and conscripts before military service.

Fluorography is included in the list of mandatory forms of research as part of the annual examination. It is with this frequency that it is carried out if the patient does not have specific complaints - general malaise, hyperthermia, pain in the chest, cough. If the listed symptoms bother him, which he informs the therapist about, then the doctor sends the patient for a fluorographic examination, but not for prevention, but in order to find out the causes of the painful condition.

It is very important not to delay a visit to the clinic if you have a cough, especially if it has been going on for a long time. There is no need to self-medicate, because often even a doctor, based on an oral interview and a superficial examination of the patient, will not be able to make the correct diagnosis. To identify the causes of cough, you will need to take clinical blood and urine tests and undergo fluorography. And only on the basis of the information received will it be possible to identify the disease and prescribe effective treatment.

When to conduct research

There are contraindications to fluorography, namely:

Why can't you get tested often?

Radiation affects a person constantly. The dose of radiation received during fluorography is negligible compared to that which the body receives from natural sunlight. However, in the end, the total dosage is taken into account, which limits the number of radiological procedures performed. Thus, the maximum permitted dose of ionizing radiation per year is 150 millisieverts, and in one fluorography session the patient receives approximately 0.8 millisieverts. It turns out that you can visit the X-ray room several times a month without harm to your health? Not really. After all, a person may need to undergo other forms of X-ray diagnostics, for example, radiography, computed tomography or positron emission computed tomography, which provide many times more radiation, and the permissible dose will be exceeded. Therefore, it is still better not to do fluorography once again, unnecessarily.

Possible health effects

Situations arise when the study is done twice in a row to clarify changes in the image. Here it is necessary to take into account the condition of the equipment and the previous annual dose. When performing fluorography on a modern device, the radiation dose is less than on film. However, it is not critical. Therefore, permanent changes in health status do not occur during a preventive examination. Functional impairments are observed in people sensitive to radiation, namely the elderly and children. Short-term symptoms manifest themselves in the form of dizziness, loss of consciousness, headache, lability of blood pressure and pulse. Within 2-3 days the indicators return to normal.

How can you neutralize negative influences?

To minimize the negative impact, it is recommended, in the absence of pathological changes in the lungs, to adhere to a minimum break between studies of 3 months. Repeated X-ray examinations are prescribed strictly according to indications.

The following will help reduce the radiation exposure before fluorography:

enterosorbents. Prescription of activated carbon (3-4 tablets), Polyphepan the day before the procedure and once after fluorography;
medicines containing calcium and iodine (potassium orotate, iodomarin, iodine balance). Used as a course lasting 7-14 days;
radioprotectors. From this group, the available drug is Naphthyzin (preparation C). The medication is available in the form of a solution for intramuscular injection. The duration of action is 1.5-2 hours, which is quite enough for an X-ray examination.

Persons exposed to radiation should include in their diet foods high in fiber, pectin, vitamins, calcium, and omega-saturated acids, namely:

sea fish and algae;
fresh vegetables and fruits;
milk, kefir, cream;
honey, olive oil.

Is it possible to refuse fluorography altogether, and how to do it?

According to the letter of the law, fluorography is a mandatory x-ray examination for the timely detection of tuberculosis. This diagnostic procedure helps to avoid advanced forms of the disease in subjects.

Often patients, fearing negative effects on the body, do not want to conduct research. In this case, the refusal must be legally recorded in two copies by the head physician of the medical institution.

However, it must be remembered that due to the lack of proof of epidemic safety for others, the person will be suspended from work, and the child will not be able to attend kindergarten or school. Therefore, if an X-ray examination of the chest organs is refused, a Mantoux test with two tuberculin units is allowed.

A more modern immunological non-invasive method is the quantiferon test. The method is based on assessing the presence of interferon gamma in the studied material. The latter is the gold standard, having high specificity and sensitivity for detecting both latent and active tuberculosis.

Hearing the word " radiation“We are presented with a certain image of an insidious, invisible and deadly enemy, capable of causing enormous harm to our health. It cannot be touched, cannot be seen, cannot be recognized by smell...

Impact radiation on a person is usually called exposure. Each of us has heard that this radiation can cause metabolic disorders, cell mutations, leukemia, infertility, radiation sickness and cancer. The effects of radiation are stronger on young dividing cells, so radiation affects children much more strongly than adults.

Serious effects on human health irradiation can only have an effect if the radiation dose exceeds 0.05 m3v per hour. If you are in an area of radiation charge or exposure, for example, undergoing an X-ray examination or fluorography, the level of exposure may exceed this permissible limit. In addition, radiation accumulates in the body and to maintain health, its amount over a lifetime should not exceed the limit of 100 - 700 m3v. Therefore, fluorography is considered a procedure harmful to the body and is often not recommended.

Fluorography called a medical examination of the chest organs. It is carried out using x-rays that pass through the human body. Fluorography is often called “lung x-ray”, as it is done in order to promptly identify foci of tuberculosis, tumors, neoplasms and other pathologies in the lungs. However, not all chest diseases can be detected using fluorography. For example, pneumonia will be noticeable only when it takes on a fairly advanced form.

Fluorography was invented as a cheaper and more mobile analogue of x-rays. To perform it, much less film is required, which reduces the cost of the research procedure by 10 times. X-ray images are developed using special devices or baths, and until recently, fluorography images were developed directly in rolls. Due to the fact that roll film is less sensitive to X-rays, the radiation exposure during fluorography using the old method had to be done 2 times more than during X-rays.

For comparison when carrying out film fluorography the patient receives radiation up to 0.8 m3v, and when passing an x-ray only 0.10-0.26 m3v. In addition, after processing the roll film, about 15% of the images were rejected, so scientists developed a new method of fluorography, which is now implemented in almost all medical institutions.

Modern fluorography technique is digital. It does not require the use of film; the digital image is immediately transferred to a computer and stored there. Digital fluorography allows you to obtain the most accurate images and provides a lower radiation dose - it does not exceed 0.1 mSv.

Considering that the recommended The annual effective dose of radiation is considered to be 1 m3v, fluorography on digital equipment can be considered practically harmless. However, you cannot undergo any fluorography more than once a year without a doctor’s prescription. As mentioned above, radiation tends to accumulate in the body and lead to cell mutation.

Quantity procedures fluorography can be increased only according to doctor's indications. Fluorography is contraindicated for children under 15 years of age; they should not be on the list of preventive medical examinations. Also, fluorography is not performed on women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Today in Russia Tuberculosis is the second most common disease after HIV. The earlier tuberculosis is detected, the more successful the treatment. Therefore, the Government of the Russian Federation was forced to issue a Resolution obliging certain categories of people to undergo fluorography twice a year in order to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.

To them relate: military personnel, maternity hospital workers who were in close contact with a patient with tuberculosis, who had tuberculosis up to 3 years after deregistration, HIV-infected people, patients in drug treatment and psychiatric institutions, former prisoners up to 2 years after release, persons under investigation and convicts held in prison isolation wards and prisons.

It is mandatory to undergo it once a year fluorography patients with diseases of the respiratory system, genitourinary system and intestinal tract, diabetics, migrants, displaced persons, persons without registration, employees of kindergartens and schools, sanatoriums, resorts and dispensaries.

Of course, any research radiation related, are undesirable, but if the doctor prescribes you to undergo fluorography a second time for successful treatment, it is better to follow his recommendations. May you receive more radiation than you will develop the disease and take medications for the rest of your life.

Today, when the situation in our country with morbidity tuberculosis And lung cancer disappointing, it is most likely appropriate to talk about the “uselessness” of fluorography rather than about its danger to health. After all, there are facts that the percentage of detection of tuberculosis and cancer in the early stages using fluorography is very low.

People turn to doctors only after the disease has manifested itself with visible symptoms. With a lung cyst, the external manifestation of the disease indicates sufficient neglect, when the consequences are already irreversible. Fluorography is one of those tools of modern medicine that does not necessarily have to be prescribed by a doctor. Therefore, every person needs to know how often fluorography can be done in order to independently monitor changes in the body. A fluorographic image of the chest can show the disease at the formative stage, when it will be much easier to fight it.

Fluorography is a procedure where X-rays pass through a person’s chest. Due to the fact that internal organs, bones, and tumors have different densities, the speed of the X-rays will differ, which allows the result to be recorded in the form of a kind of photograph. The deciphering of what fluorography shows is done by a radiologist, who marks the most suspicious spots and compactions on the X-ray of the lungs. The image is not very clear, even with modern equipment and the ability to obtain a digital image, therefore, at the slightest suspicion of pathology, this is indicated in the report, after which the patient is sent to a pulmonologist.

This specialist, at his discretion, prescribes additional procedures to make a diagnosis:

X-ray to determine diffuse changes;
Computed tomography (multispiral (hereinafter referred to as MSCT), but linear tomography is also used);
Ultrasound of the lungs;
Ventilation as a test of diffusion capacity;
Pleural puncture.

Examination of the lungs during FLG is associated with radiation exposure, which is why the frequency of this procedure has certain limitations. Irradiation is carried out in small doses, which are lower than the background radiation of the Earth. In some cases, tissues have the function of “accumulating” negative radiation, which weakens the immune system, and some other unpleasant consequences are also possible.

Since fluorography of the lungs has a preventive purpose, it is enough to undergo an examination once a year. The frequency can be increased to once every 6 months for people who work in the medical field or have severe chronic illnesses.

In some cases, a functional examination is done regardless of how long ago the previous examination was. For example, conscripts or when applying for a job. Such cases are acceptable, as they do not cause harm to health. If necessary, the therapist himself may recommend more frequent visits to the radiologist's office. However, for personal purposes, to monitor your health, it is enough to do fluorography without a doctor’s prescription approximately once every 12 months.

The difference between fluorography and other types of examination

Fluorography does not require a referral from a therapist or a specialized specialist, since the FLG procedure is a preventive measure for the timely detection of, as well as some other diseases. The research method is based on X-rays, so the difference between the terms fluorography and radiography may not be too obvious for ordinary citizens. The main criterion for how fluorography differs from x-rays and other types of research is the clarity of the picture.

X-ray examination, MSCT, X-ray CT, linear tomography, CT of the lungs and fluorography are based on approximately the same principle of using x-ray irradiation, however, photographs taken using these analyzes differ in that they can show diffuse changes with different clarity. Among all the methods for detecting chest diseases, fluorography shows the least clear picture, which makes it difficult to make a final diagnosis. However, the image has enough data to refer for additional examinations or confirm the absence of pathologies.

The most detailed, comprehensive image can be obtained with MSCT, since the rays pass simultaneously at different angles, which allows you to obtain an almost three-dimensional image. In addition to obtaining a clearer X-ray image of both the bronchi and lungs, this device has a therapeutic function. For therapeutic purposes, it can be used much more often than fluorography, although the radiation that a person receives during the procedure is approximately the same. The number of procedures is prescribed directly by the attending physician, who is familiar with the medical history, as well as previous indications on an x-ray or MSCT.

Benefits of the study

Despite the fact that fluorography is inferior to other types of diagnostics, it is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to detect diseases, including the diffusion capacity of the lungs in the early stages. The procedure itself lasts less than 1 minute, and results can be obtained the next day. The most common pathology shown on the FLG image is a white spot. Spots in the lungs on an X-ray can have different shapes depending on what problem is manifested: from a simple small dot to a missing segment or lobe of lung tissue. In addition to spots, compactions are also noticeable, for example, compaction of the interlobar pleura or diffuse changes in the lobes of other organs.

Fluorography of the lungs can be compared with electroencephalography of the brain, since both methods do not provide a complete picture, but are less expensive. EEG changes indicate the presence of a cyst in the brain, while diffuse changes in the lungs indicate a similar disease of the respiratory system.

An annual examination by a radiologist is not a mandatory compulsory medical procedure, with the exception of employees of some institutions. However, fluorography does not take much time, like MSCT and some others. Fluorography is available for testing in any clinic, so people who care about their health are recommended to go for fluorography not only with a doctor’s direction, but also after a certain period of time. Fluorography will help to identify the problem in time, identify serious diffuse changes, which means there will be a greater chance of successful recovery.