Although many conditions do not require diagnostic imaging, more complicated cases as well as cases involving liability issues usually do. X-rays are not uncommonly used but do carry the risk of ionizing radiation. 

You can reduce your radiation risks and contribute to your successful examination or procedure by:

• Keeping a “medical x-ray history” with the names of your radiological exams or procedures, the dates and places where you had them, and the physicians who referred you for those exams
• Making your current healthcare providers aware of your medical x-ray history;
• Asking your healthcare provider about whether or not alternatives to x-ray exams would allow the provider to make a good assessment or provide appropriate treatment for your medical situation
• Providing interpreting physicians and referring physicians with recent x-ray images and radiology reports
• Informing radiologists or x-ray technologists in advance if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.