Editing X-ray machine (section)

===Medicine===
[[Image:Mobile X-ray machine.jpg|thumb|right|Mobile fluoroscopy units can produce images continuously.]]
The main fields in which x-ray machines are used in medicine are [[radiography]], radiotherapy, and [[fluoroscopy|fluoroscopic-type procedures]]. Radiography is generally used for fast, highly penetrating images, and is usually used in areas with a high bone content but can also be used to look for tumors such as with mammography imaging.  Some forms of radiography include:
*[[orthopantomogram]] — a panoramic x-ray of the [[jaw]] showing all the teeth at once
*[[mammography]] — x-rays of [[breast tissue]]
*[[tomography]] — x-ray imaging in sections
In fluoroscopy, imaging of the digestive tract is done with the help of a [[radiocontrast|radiocontrast agent]] such as [[barium sulfate]], which is opaque to X-rays.

[[Radiotherapy]] — the use of x-ray radiation to treat malignant and benign [[cancer cell]]s, a non-imaging application

[[Fluoroscopy]] is used in cases where real-time visualization is necessary (and is most commonly encountered in everyday life at [[airport security]]). Some medical applications of fluoroscopy include:
*[[angiography]] — used to examine [[blood vessel]]s in real time along with the placement of stents and other procedures to repair blocked arteries.
*[[barium enema]] — a procedure used to examine problems of the [[Colon (anatomy)|colon]] and lower [[gastrointestinal tract]]
*[[barium swallow]] — similar to a barium enema, but used to examine the upper gastrointestinal tract
*[[biopsy]] — the removal of tissue for examination
*[[Pain Management]] - used to visually see and guide needles for administering/injecting pain medications, steroids or pain blocking medications throughout the spinal region.
*[[Orthopedic procedures]] - used to guide placement and removal of bone structure reinforcement plates, rods and fastening hardware used to aide the healing process and alignment of bone structures healing properly together.  
X-rays are highly penetrating, [[ionizing radiation]], therefore X-ray machines are used to take pictures of dense tissues such as bones and teeth. This is because bones absorb the radiation more than the less dense [[soft tissue]]. X-rays from a source pass through the body and onto a photographic cassette.  Areas where radiation is absorbed show up as lighter shades of grey (closer to white). This can be used to diagnose broken or fractured bones.

In 2012, European Commission of Radiation Protection set leakage radiation limit from X-ray generators such as X-ray tubes and CT machines as one mGy/hour at one metre distance from the machine.<ref>{{cite book |title=Criteria for Acceptability of Medical Radiological Equipment used in Diagnostic Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy |date=2012 |publisher=European Union |location=Luxembourg |page=26 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/162.pdf |access-date=12 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309163132/https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/162.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2021}}</ref>