eli5: what do people with metal plates in their body do when they need an x ray?

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does the x ray still work because its a type of metal that is compatible? or do they just have to do a different procedure instead of an xray?

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edit: thank you sm for the answers everyone!!! yall are some smart cookies 🙂

In: Biology

4 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

An x-ray will not effect the metal. It will cause an artifact (glow) around the metal causing that area to be obscured but it will do no harm. Conversely MRIs are a giant magnet and will cause metal to vibrate and thereby heat up. It may loosen it or tear small pieces out depending on strength and time of exposure.

Anonymous 0 Comments

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Anonymous 0 Comments

They have an Xray, and the plate casts a shadow in the image. The radiologist works around the shadow.

Anonymous 0 Comments

They have a few options:

1)Do the X-ray and deal with the shadows.

2)Do the x-ray from a different angle to minimize the shadow (or use a CT scanner)

3)Depending on the type of metal, MRIs can be an option.