# X-ray in El Paso

Desert Imaging does digital X-rays at four El Paso centers: West, East, Joe Battle and Horizon City. Come as you are, each picture takes seconds, and a board-certified radiologist reads every X-ray.

## What it is

An X-ray sends a small dose of radiation through the body onto a digital detector. Bone absorbs more and shows white, air shows dark, and soft tissue falls in between. It has been the first exam for broken bones since Röntgen discovered it in 1895.

The most common X-ray is the chest, which shows the lungs and heart and helps find pneumonia, fluid or a mass. An abdominal X-ray can show a blockage or free air. Spine and joint X-rays show fractures, alignment and arthritis. Some stones in the kidney or gallbladder show too, though not always.

All our X-ray equipment is digital. The image goes straight from the detector to the radiologist's screen, with no film to develop.

**Good to know:** X-ray shows bone well and soft tissue only in outline. When your doctor needs to see muscle, discs, organs or vessels in detail, the next step is ultrasound, CT or MRI.

## Where to get it

- [West](https://desertimagingcenters.com/locations/west/x-ray): 122 W. Castellano Dr., El Paso, TX 79912. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Closed Sunday.
- [East](https://desertimagingcenters.com/locations/lee-trevino/x-ray): 1727 Lee Trevino Dr., El Paso, TX 79935. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Closed Sunday.
- [Joe Battle](https://desertimagingcenters.com/locations/joe-battle/x-ray): 3080 Joe Battle Blvd., Suite B, El Paso, TX 79938. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Closed Sunday.
- [Horizon City](https://desertimagingcenters.com/locations/horizon-city/x-ray): 13650 Eastlake Blvd., Suite A-102, Horizon City, TX 79928. Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Closed Sunday.

## What to expect

No preparation. Come as you are. You may be asked to remove jewelry or change into a gown if the area has metal on it.

The technologist positions you standing, sitting or lying on the table, steps behind a screen and takes the picture. Each exposure takes a fraction of a second, and most exams need two or three views. You are usually done in minutes.

A board-certified radiologist reads every X-ray. The report goes to your doctor and to your patient portal.

**How long it takes:** Seconds per picture, minutes in all.

## Our equipment

- Digital X-ray at every center that offers it. Images go straight to the radiologist's screen.

## Exams we perform

From our physician order form. Your doctor names the exact study on the order.

### Head and spine

- Skull
- Sinuses
- Nasal bones
- Mandible
- Mastoids
- Jaw joint (TMJ)
- Cervical spine, 3 or 5 views, flexion and extension
- Thoracic spine
- Lumbar spine, 3 or 5 views, flexion and extension
- Sacrum and coccyx
- SI joints
- Scoliosis series

### Chest and abdomen

- Chest
- Ribs
- Sternum
- Abdomen (KUB)

### Arms

- Shoulder
- Clavicle
- Upper arm (humerus)
- Elbow
- Forearm
- Wrist
- Hand, arthritis protocol
- Finger

### Legs

- Pelvis
- Hip
- Thigh (femur)
- Knee, weight bearing
- Lower leg
- Ankle
- Foot, weight bearing
- Heel (calcaneus)
- Toes

### Special studies

- Bone age
- Bone length (scanogram)
- Skeletal survey

## How to prepare

From our preparation sheet. Your appointment confirmation carries the instructions for your exact study.

- Come as you are.
- The image may be taken standing, sitting or lying on a table, and takes only seconds.

## Common questions

### Do I need a doctor's order?

Yes. An X-ray needs an order from your doctor, and the order tells us which views to take. Bring it, or have your doctor's office send it to us.

### How much radiation is in an X-ray?

A small amount, and only for a fraction of a second per picture. Tell the technologist if you are or could be pregnant, so the exam can be shielded, changed or postponed.

### When will my doctor get the result?

The images reach the radiologist as soon as they are taken. Once read, the report goes to the doctor who ordered the X-ray and appears in your patient portal.

### Can I wear my own clothes?

Usually yes. Metal shows on the picture, so you may be asked to remove jewelry, a belt or a bra, or to change into a gown for that part of the exam.


## Ready to book?

Request an appointment online and bring your doctor's order. We take it from there.

- [Request an appointment](https://eforms.abbadox.com/240384671438865)
- Call (915) 577-0100