Dye (contrast material) is put into a vein (intravenous) or swallowed so vessels or organs can show up clearly a fluoroscopy.
Fluoroscopy is also used to help find a foreign object in the body, position a needle for a medical procedure, or realign a broken bone. It allows a physician to look at the digestive, urinary, respiratory, and reproductive systems. It can also help examine specific parts of the body, like bones, muscles and joints, the heart and kidneys.
What to Expect
Fluoroscopy is usually done during other diagnostic procedures. For example, fluoroscopy is done during cardiac catheterization to look at the coronary arteries and the flow of blood through them.
Fluoroscopy may also be used to look at the urinary tract or during a hysterosalpingogram to look at a woman's reproductive organs.
Risks
Fluoroscopy exams usually take longer than standard x-ray exams.
For information on radiation risks, see X-Ray.