MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Pelvis X-ray

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Pelvis X-ray

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition How the test is performed How to prepare for the test	How the test will feel Why the test is performed What abnormal results mean What the risks are

Illustrations

Sacrum

Anterior skeletal anatomy

Alternative names Return to top

X-ray - pelvis

Definition Return to top

A pelvis X-ray is an examination involving images of the bones of the lower torso.

How the test is performed Return to top

The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an X-ray technician. You will be asked to lie down on the table. The pictures are then taken, with the body repositioned to provide different views.

How to prepare for the test Return to top

Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant. Remove all jewelry. You will wear a hospital gown.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the test will feel Return to top

There is no discomfort except possibly from positioning the body.

Why the test is performed Return to top

The X-ray is used to detect fractures, tumors, or degenerative conditions of bones in the hips, pelvis, and upper legs.

What abnormal results mean Return to top

Abnormal results may include pelvic fractures; tumors of the ilium, ischium, or pubis (the bones of the pelvis); and sacroiliitis (inflammation of the sacroiliac area where the sacrum joins the ilium bone).

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed include ankylosing spondylitis.

What the risks are Return to top

There is low radiation exposure. However, pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of X-rays.

Update Date: 5/5/2003

Updated by: Benjamin Taragin, M.D., Department of Radiology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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