“Does an x-ray show inflammation?”
My son might have a swollen appendix. A doctor recommended an x-ray of his abdomen. Does an x-ray show inflammation?
4 Answers
no
No. X-rays do not show soft tissues. If concerned about appendicitis, I would recommend obtaining an abdominal ultrasound.
No, CT or MRI is better.
The X-ray may show an abnormal gas pattern, kidney stone, or fecolith, but not appendix inflammation. He will need a CAT scan if you need to be sure it is appendicitis.
