X-Ray in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is an X-ray?
An X-ray is an imaging test that sends a brief beam of radiation through part of the body onto a detector on the other side. Dense structures such as bone absorb more of the beam and appear white, air in the lungs lets it pass and appears dark, and soft tissues show in shades of grey. The result is a still picture that a radiologist reads and reports.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, X-rays are performed by radiographers in the radiology department and reported by the radiology team. An X-ray is often the first imaging test a doctor requests, because it is fast, widely understood and answers common questions about bones and the chest straight away.
Who needs it
An X-ray is arranged by your treating doctor when a picture of bone, a joint or the chest will help with a decision. Common reasons include:
- A suspected broken bone after a fall, sports injury or road accident
- Joint pain, stiffness or swelling, to look at the joint space and bone edges
- A lingering cough, breathlessness or fever, where a chest X-ray checks the lungs
- Checking how a fracture is healing, or the position of a bone after it has been set
- Back or neck pain after an injury
- A swallowed object in a child, to see where it has reached
- Checking the position of a tube or line placed during hospital care
Your doctor chooses the test that best answers the question. Injuries and joint problems are usually assessed through Orthopedics and Sports Medicine or the Emergency department, and chest symptoms through Pulmonology. If a question needs more detail than an X-ray gives, your doctor may request an ultrasound scan, a CT scan or an MRI scan instead. Dental X-rays are a separate examination, described on the dental X-ray page.
What happens
Your X-ray is carried out by a radiographer, a health professional trained in taking medical images. The radiographer checks your name, date of birth and the part of the body to be imaged, and asks whether there is any chance you could be pregnant.
You stand, sit or lie next to the detector, depending on the area being imaged. The radiographer positions you carefully, sometimes with foam pads or supports, and then steps behind a screen. For the moment the image is taken, you need to keep completely still. For a chest X-ray, you are asked to take a deep breath in and hold it for a few seconds, because full lungs spread out the lung tissue and give a clearer picture.
Most areas are imaged from at least two directions, usually at right angles to each other, such as from the front and from the side. A single view can hide a fracture that is obvious from a different angle, so two views give the radiologist a truer picture. The X-ray itself is painless and takes a fraction of a second. If an injured limb is sore to move, the radiographer takes care to position it gently.
Children can usually have a parent with them in the room, wearing a protective apron, to help them stay still and feel secure. The whole appointment is often brief, depending on how many views are needed.
Preparing for it
Most X-rays need no special preparation, and you can eat, drink and take your usual medicines. Wear comfortable clothing that is easy to remove from the area being imaged. Metal shows up brightly on an X-ray and can hide what the doctor needs to see, so you may be asked to change into a gown and to remove:
- Jewellery, watches, hair clips and piercings near the area
- Clothing with zips, metal buttons or poppers
- An underwired bra, for a chest or upper back X-ray
- Glasses or hearing aids, for X-rays of the head or neck
Tell the radiographer before the X-ray if you are pregnant or might be. Bring your request form and any previous X-rays or reports of the same area, since comparing images over time helps the radiologist see what has changed.
In the UAE, the chest X-ray required for a residence visa medical fitness test follows its own government screening process at designated centres. Check with the relevant authority where your visa screening must be done, since it is separate from an X-ray requested by your doctor.
Afterwards
You can return to your usual activities straight away, including driving and work, as there are no after-effects from an X-ray. No radiation remains in your body once the image has been taken.
A radiologist reviews your images and sends a written report to the doctor who requested the X-ray. Your doctor explains the result alongside your symptoms and examination, and plans any treatment or further tests.
Contact your doctor if your pain or swelling gets worse while you wait for your result, or if new symptoms appear. If you have severe pain, a limb that looks deformed, numbness or a cold, pale hand or foot after an injury, or sudden breathlessness or chest pain, go to the emergency department or call emergency services straight away.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover X-rays requested by a doctor to investigate symptoms or an injury, often without separate pre-approval. Cover for X-rays done for screening or employment purposes without symptoms varies by plan. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you check your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the risks and limits of an X-ray?
An X-ray uses a small dose of radiation, and the benefit of the information is weighed against that small risk before an X-ray is requested. X-rays show bone and the lungs well but show soft tissues such as ligaments, cartilage and muscles poorly. Some fractures, particularly small ones in the wrist or hip, do not show on the first X-ray and need a repeat X-ray or another scan.
How much radiation is in an X-ray?
An X-ray involves a small dose of radiation. A chest X-ray gives a dose comparable to the natural background radiation everyone receives over a few days from the environment. X-rays of larger or denser areas, such as the lower back or pelvis, involve more, which is why an X-ray is requested only when it helps a decision.
Is an X-ray safe during pregnancy?
An X-ray of an area away from the abdomen, such as a hand or ankle, involves very little radiation reaching the baby, but the team still needs to know. Tell the radiographer before any X-ray if you are pregnant or might be. Your doctor may choose ultrasound or MRI instead, or delay a non-urgent X-ray.
Why did my X-ray show nothing when I am still in pain?
A normal X-ray means no broken bone or bone problem was seen, but pain can still come from soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons or muscles, which X-rays show poorly. Some small fractures also appear only on a later X-ray. Your doctor decides whether a repeat X-ray or another test is needed.
Can I ask for an X-ray without seeing a doctor?
X-rays at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah are arranged by a treating doctor, who decides which test will answer the question about your symptoms. This avoids unnecessary radiation and ensures the result is interpreted alongside your examination. Book an appointment on 06 599 7777.
Can a parent stay with a child during an X-ray?
A parent can usually stay with a child during an X-ray, wearing a protective apron, to help the child keep still and feel safe. A parent who is or might be pregnant should tell the radiographer, and another adult may be asked to stay instead.
Is an X-ray covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover X-rays requested by a doctor to investigate symptoms or an injury. X-rays done for screening or employment without symptoms may be excluded. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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