X - Ray Neck AP & LAT View

A cervical spine X-ray takes a picture of the bones in the back of the neck (7 cervical vertebrae), the first vertebrae of the thoracic spine, and the disc spaces. It may be performed to diagnose the cause of neck pain, fractures or broken bones, arthritis, spondylosis, degeneration of the discs, and tumours. In Anterior-Posterior (AP) projection, X-rays pass from the front to the back of the patient. The lateral view is taken from the side of the patient. An X-ray uses radiation to create a picture of the area. A radiologist will assess the images and send a report.

A plain X-ray usually takes 15 minutes, but this is a safe and painless technique, as the radiation exposure is less than a second.