Please note the key Royal College of Radiologists indications for undertaking a plain x-ray of the abdomen (AXR or PFA):
- Suspected visceral perforation
- Suspected gastrointestinal obstruction (e.g. sigmoid volvulus)
- Exacerbation of colitis
The radiation exposure for a PFA/AXR is around 0.7 mSV, which is approximately 35 chest radiographs or 4 months’ background radiation