Radiography
Radiography is the most commonly utilised imaging modality in horses and at the RVC Equine Referral Hospital we have a state of the art, purpose-built x-ray suite equipped with a high-output x-ray generator linked to ceiling mounted grids. All radiographs are acquired digitally allowing for digital enhancement and storage of images in addition to minimising exposure to horse and personnel.
The Equine Referral Hospital has four mobile digital x-ray systems for use in the stable for horses that are unable to walk to the x-ray suite. These are also available to the ambulatory practice to acquire radiographs in practice.
How are radiographs acquired?
Radiography is based on the principle of x-rays’ ability to penetrate matter. A vacuum chamber on one side of the structure of interest will produce x-rays while the plate on the opposite side will collect the x-rays that penetrate and determine the image.
The image produced is determined by the absorption of the x-rays by different structures, with differences in absorption depending on tissue density, tissue thickness and atomic weight. For example, bone is denser than soft tissues and has a higher atomic weight due to its calcium content; therefore it will appear white on the image as it absorbs a greater amount of x-rays. Air and fat on the other hand will appear black, while soft tissue, e.g. muscle, will appear grey.
