Q. Can a regular X-ray show colon cancer?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Yes, a regular X-ray can show colon cancer. While many people think of X-rays as an imaging technique only used to look at bones like in a broken arm or leg, X-ray technology has advanced significantly over the years and is now capable of detecting many types of illnesses and conditions other than just bones.
A conventional radiography (X-ray) utilizes electromagnetic radiation that passes through body tissues at different rates depending on the type of tissue it encounters. Depending on what type of anatomical structure is being imaged, X-rays may require different exposure times or settings to allow computer algorithms to detect abnormalities within the images taken. In relation to colorectal cancer detection specifically, an abdominal x-ray may be ordered by your doctor as part of ongoing screening for prevention purposes or due to symptoms you are experiencing that could relate to colorectal cancer such as diarrhea, constipation, excessive fatigue etc...
Colon cancers form masses often referred to as polyps which appear on x-rays due their density and location within the intestinal tract wall compared with other nearby organs/tissues. These polyps can range from small in size (millimeters) all the way up larger nodular masses (centimeters). The accuracy with which these polyps can be detected through abdominal x rays depends on their size and how closely they are located together but nonetheless it remains one useful tool for diagnosing colorectal cancer early allowing relief treatment options accordingly with potential life saving results in some cases!
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