Chapter 6 Procedures in radiography





INTRODUCTION
Radiology is an integral department within the hospital in that many inpatients are required to have at least one radiological examination in some form or another during their hospital stay. There are many other sources of referral forimaging examinations, ranging from outpatient clinics to accident and emergency departments (Table 6.1).
Table 6.1 Referral sources and input in a diagnostic imaging department
Referring source | Diagnostic imaging input |
---|---|
Medical/surgical | Departmental appendicular and axial skeletal radiography |
Departmental chest and abdominal radiography | |
Mammography | |
Dental | |
Mobile ward radiography | |
Departmental and theatre based fluoroscopic examinations | |
Non ionic iodinated contrast studies | |
Theatre based appendicular and axial skeletal radiography | |
CT, MRI, US, RNI | |
Outpatients/GPs | Departmental appendicular and axial skeletal radiography |
• Orthopaedic | Departmental chest and abdominal radiography |
• ENT | Mammography |
• Gynaecology | Dental |
• Obstetrics | Departmental fluoroscopic examinations |
• Oncology | Non ionic iodinated contrast studies |
• Paediatric | CT, MRI, US, RNI |
• Care of the elderly | |
Accident and emergency | Departmental appendicular and axial skeletal radiography |
Departmental chest and abdominal radiography | |
Mobile resuscitation unit radiography | |
CT, MRI, US |
CT, computed tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; RNI, radionuclide imaging; US, ultrasound
PATIENT PATHWAYS THROUGH THE IMAGING DEPARTMENT

Figure 6.1 A patient’s pathway through a diagnostic imaging department for routine appendicular, axial, chest and abdominal radiography.
CHANGING CUBICLE
A changing cubicle should contain a bench or chair to sit on. There should be a supply of gowns to accommodate both male and female statures. The door should be lockable but with safety locks in case of emergencies and patients should not be placed in a cubicle for long periods of time.Some hospitals provide baskets/lockers for the patient’s clothes in order to reduce the risk of theft and also free up cubicles for a more rapid throughput of patients.
MOBILE RADIOGRAPHY
The imaging of a patient using equipment other than the static department-based equipment is commonly known as mobile or portable radiography. However, the term portable only relates to equipment that can be carried. Mobile radiography can be divided into two distinct types: