Chest X-Rays
(PA and lateral views; patient is ambulatory, x-rays done in Radiology)

There are some risks from the chest x-rays (2 views) used during your screening process. These x-rays will expose you to radiation . If you live in the US, you receive about 300 millirem of radiation each year. It comes from space and the earth around you. This is called “background radiation.” A “millirem” (mrem) is a unit used to measure doses of radiation. The radiation dose to your whole body from each set of x-rays will be about 12 mrem. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation is low. If you have more procedures that expose you to radiation, this risk will go up. [Grade 5.8]

Chest X-Rays
(AP, one view only; patient is non-ambulatory, x-ray done in the Emergency Room, in the ICU, in the patient's room, etc.)

There are some risks from the chest x-ray taken during your initial exam. This x-ray will expose you to radiation. If you live in the US, you receive about 300 millirem of radiation each year. It comes from space and the earth around you. This is called “background radiation.” A “millirem” (mrem) is a unit used to measure doses of radiation. The radiation dose to your whole body from your x-ray will be about 18 mrem. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation is low. If you have more procedures that expose you to radiation, this risk will go up. [Grade 6.0]

Chest X-Rays
(AP only, variable number for treatment of ARDS patients)

There are some risks from the chest x-rays used to monitor your status. These x-rays will expose you to radiation. If you live in the US, you receive about 300 millirem of radiation each year. It comes from space and the earth around you. This is called “background radiation.” A “millirem” (mrem) is a unit used to measure doses of radiation. The radiation dose to your whole body from each of your x-rays will be about 18 mrem. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation is low. If you have more procedures that expose you to radiation, this risk will go up. [Grade 5.8]

Chest X-Rays and X-Rays of Extremities
(hands and feet)

There are some risks from the x-rays taken during your screening and follow-up appointments. These x-rays will expose you to radiation. If you live in the US, you receive about 300 millirem of radiation each year. It comes from space and the earth around you. This is called "background radiation." A "millirem" (mrem) is a unit used to measure doses of radiation. The radiation dose to your whole body from each set of chest x-rays will be about 12 mrem. The radiation dose to your whole body from each set of x-rays of your hands and feet will be less than 1 mrem. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation is low. If you have more procedures that expose you to radiation, this risk will go up. [Grade 6.0]

X-Rays of the Neck
(variable number, more than 1)

There are some risks from the x-rays of your neck taken to help with your diagnosis and to follow your treatment. These x-rays will expose you to radiation. If you live in the US, you receive about 300 millirem of radiation each year. It comes from space and the earth around you. This is called “background radiation.” A “millirem” (mrem) is a unit used to measure doses of radiation. The radiation dose to your whole body from each x-ray of your neck will be about 5 mrem. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation is low. If you have more procedures that expose you to radiation, this risk will go up. [Grade 6.0]

X-Rays of the Neck
(each set includes 6 views: AP, lateral, flexion-extension, and lateral bending)

There are some risks from the x-rays of your neck taken to help with your diagnosis and to follow your recovery. These x-rays will expose you to radiation. If you live in the US, you receive about 300 millirem of radiation each year. It comes from space and the earth around you. This is called “background radiation.” A “millirem” (mrem) is a unit used to measure doses of radiation. The radiation dose to your whole body from each set of x-rays of your neck (6 views) will be about 25 mrem. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation is low. If you have more procedures that expose you to radiation, this risk will go up. [Grade 6.3]

X-Rays of the Torso
(spine, shoulders, abdomen, hips, pelvis)

There are some risks from the x-rays of your [lower spine] taken during your screening and follow-up appointments. These x-rays will expose you to radiation. If you live in the US, you receive about 300 millirem of radiation each year. It comes from space and the earth around you. This is called “background radiation.” A “millirem” (mrem) is a unit used to measure doses of radiation. The radiation dose to your whole body from each set of x-rays (4 views) will be about 340 mrem. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation is low. If you have more procedures that expose you to radiation, this risk will go up. [Grade 6.4]

X-Rays of the Hip or Arm or Leg

There are some risks from the x-rays used to diagnose your injury. These x-rays will expose you to radiation. If you live in the US, you receive about 300 millirem of radiation each year. It comes from space and the earth around you. This is called “background radiation.” A “millirem” (mrem) is a unit used to measure doses of radiation. The radiation dose to your whole body from each set of x-rays of your hip (2 views) will be about 74 mrem. The dose from an x-ray of your arm or your leg will be about 1 mrem. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation is low. If you have more procedures that expose you to radiation, this risk will go up. [Grade 5.5]