cineradiography

Cineradiography is an imaging technique that records moving X-ray images as a continuous sequence. It combines fluoroscopy with cine photography to produce motion pictures of internal structures in real time. In a typical study, a fluoroscope provides a live image of the area of interest, and a cine camera records the sequence, historically on 16- or 35-millimeter film and later digitized for playback and analysis. Frame rates are generally in the range of 15 to 30 frames per second, allowing clinicians to assess timing, coordination, and mechanics of motion that are not evident on static radiographs.

The technique relies on real-time X-ray imaging using an image-intensified fluoroscopic setup, with the recorded cine loop enabling slow-motion review and precise measurement of dynamic processes. Equipment and protocols have evolved from film-based cine to digital capture, storage, and playback, improving accessibility and reducing handling risks.

Applications include dynamic assessments such as swallowing (cineradiographic or videofluoroscopic swallow studies), gastrointestinal motility, and other functional studies of organs. In cardiology and radiology, cine imaging has been used to visualize vascular flow and cardiac chamber motion (cineangiography) and to evaluate procedural outcomes. Today, cineradiography is largely superseded by digital fluoroscopy and modern videofluoroscopy, which provide real-time imaging with improved dose efficiency and easier data management, though the term persists in historical and educational contexts.

Safety and ethics in cineradiography emphasize radiation dose minimization, justification of the examination, and protective measures. Contrast agents may be used to enhance visualization of hollow structures or vessels. History notes that the method emerged with early fluoroscopy and cine cameras in the 20th century and remained widely used before transitioning to digital imaging.