Fluoroskopia

Fluoroscopy is a medical imaging modality that provides real-time, moving images of the interior of the body using X-rays. Unlike static radiographs, fluoroscopy displays dynamic processes as they occur, such as passage of contrast through a lumen or the navigation of instruments during procedures.

During a fluoroscopic examination, an X-ray beam is transmitted through the patient and captured by a detector, historically an image intensifier linked to a television camera and now a digital flat-panel detector. The image is displayed on a monitor and can be recorded or saved as needed. Exposures may be continuous or pulsed to reduce dose, and radiopaque contrast agents are frequently used to visualize structures and flow.

Equipment and techniques: Modern fluoroscopy typically uses a C-shaped, mobile or bedside gantry (C-arm) that allows imaging from multiple angles. Digital detectors, image processing, and features such as magnification, road mapping, and last-image hold assist in guiding procedures and improving workflow. Nearly all fluoroscopic studies are performed with dose-reduction strategies to minimize radiation exposure.

Applications: Fluoroscopy supports diagnostic and interventional radiology, including angiography and vascular interventions, gastrointestinal studies (such as esophagram, barium swallow, ERCP), urinary tract imaging, orthopedic and spinal procedures, catheter placements, injections, and biopsies. It is frequently used to guide instruments in real time before final radiographs are obtained.

Safety and limitations: Fluoroscopy involves ionizing radiation; operators follow the ALARA principle to minimize dose, using shielding, collimation, pulsed fluoroscopy, and selective imaging. Potential limitations include higher radiation dose compared with single static radiographs, lower spatial resolution relative to conventional radiography, and susceptibility to motion artifacts. Risks are mitigated with proper technique and by avoiding unnecessary studies, particularly in pregnant patients.