What is fluoroscopy?
Fluoroscopy is a type of medical imaging. You can think of fluoroscopy as an x-ray video. Clinicians use fluoroscopy to guide minimally invasive procedures. These procedures can be an alternative to surgery because they have lower risks and shorter recovery times.
What are the risks of fluoroscopy?
Fluoroscopy is generally safe when done by a specialist. The risks of fluoroscopy come from its use of x-rays to make pictures. X-rays are a type of radiation that can damage cells in the body. This damage can be reversible or permanent. X-rays at high doses can cause skin burns or hair loss. X-rays at any dose can cause cancer. The chance of getting cancer from fluoroscopy is very low but goes up with more exposure to fluoroscopy. Clinicians only use fluoroscopy when the benefits outweigh the risks.
If a large amount of radiation is used, you may be asked to follow up with a clinician over the next months to watch for skin changes.
What are the alternatives to fluoroscopy?
Sometimes other imaging can be used to guide procedures. CT also uses X-rays. Ultrasound and MRI do not use radiation. They each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Your clinician will choose the type of imaging that allows them to see clearly and perform the procedure safely. They take care to minimize the amount of radiation used.
The main alternative would be not doing the procedure. Your alternatives depend on your preferences, overall health, and the reason why your clinician is recommending this procedure.
More information about X-ray imaging can be found here: https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/x-ray