what is fluoroscopy

Fluoroscopy is a type of medical imaging that shows a continuous X-ray image on a monitor, much like an X-ray movie. During a fluoroscopy procedure, an X-ray beam is passed through the body, and the image is transmitted to a monitor so that the movement of a body part or of an instrument or contrast agent ("X-ray dye") through the body can be seen in detail. Fluoroscopy is used in a wide variety of examinations and procedures to diagnose or treat patients. Some examples include barium X-rays and enemas (to view the gastrointestinal tract), catheter insertion and manipulation (to direct the movement of a catheter through blood vessels, bile ducts or the urinary system), placement of devices within the body, such as stents (to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels), angiograms (to visualize blood vessels and organs), and arthrography (visualization of a joint or joints). Fluoroscopy procedures are performed to help diagnose disease or to guide physicians during certain treatment procedures. Fluoroscopy can be used for diagnosing (finding out the cause of) a health problem such as heart or intestinal disease, and it also can be used to guide treatments such as implants or injections, or in orthopedic surgery. Fluoroscopy is a common imaging procedure that healthcare providers use to monitor and diagnose certain conditions and to help guide certain procedures.