Fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is an imaging modality that provides real-time X-ray visualization of moving body structures. It uses an X-ray beam that passes through the patient and an image receptor to produce live, dynamic images on a monitor. Modern systems rely on a digital flat-panel detector or an image intensifier and can display pulsed or continuous imaging, enabling rapid assessment of motion and function.

The procedure typically involves a fluoroscope, a patient table, and imaging equipment such as a C-arm. A contrast agent, often iodinated, may be administered to enhance visibility of vessels or hollow organs. The operator can guide instruments, perform injections, or monitor the progress of interventional devices in real time.

Common applications include evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract (barium or water-soluble contrasts), angiography and endovascular intervention, urogenital imaging, myelography and arthrography, and fluoroscopic-guided procedures such as catheter placement, embolization, and percutaneous interventions.

Safety and radiation protection are central to fluoroscopy. Real-time imaging can deliver higher radiation doses than conventional radiography, so exposure is minimized through pulsed fluoroscopy, last-image hold, collimation, shielding, and dose monitoring. Patients with contrast allergies or impaired renal function may be at risk from iodinated contrast; alternative agents or premedication may be used.

History and evolution: Fluoroscopy originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the development of continuous X-ray imaging. The image intensifier and later flat-panel detectors in the late 20th century enabled higher image quality with lower dose, and digital fluoroscopy has become standard in many settings. Limitations include radiation exposure, potential for motion blur, and lower spatial resolution compared with some other X-ray modalities.