Several types of X-rays take pictures of different areas inside your body. Some X-rays use contrast material (also known as dye) to make the images clearer. Some of the most common types of X-rays include:

• Abdominal X-ray: This X-ray shows images of your kidneys, stomach, liver and bladder. It helps providers diagnose conditions like kidney stones and bladder stones. There are some special kinds of abdominal X-rays such as a barium enema that use special dyes (called contrast) to evaluate parts of the digestive system.
• Bone X-ray: Your provider uses a bone X-ray study to see broken bones (fractures), dislocated joints and arthritis. Images from bone X-rays can also show signs of bone cancer or infection. A spine X-ray looks at the bones and tissues in the spine.
• Chest X-ray: This test looks for abnormalities in the heart, lungs and bones in the chest like pneumonia.
• Dental X-ray: Regular dental X-rays allow your provider to evaluate your teeth and gums, look for infection and check for cavities.
• Fluoroscopy: A fluoroscopy shows moving images of organs and soft tissues (such as your intestines). Your provider views your organs in motion on a screen (kind of like an X-ray movie). GI X-ray exams often use fluoroscopy.
• CT scan (computed tomography): A radiology study that uses X-rays and a computer to create cross-section images of bones, organs and tissues. This is a donut-shaped machine that you slide through as it takes images.
• Mammogram: Providers use mammograms to take X-ray pictures of breast tissue, evaluate breast lumps and diagnose breast cancer.