A 43-year-old member asked:
What radiology scans have white backgrounds and which ones have black backgrounds?
5 doctor answers • 18 doctors weighed in
Dr. Tushar Patelanswered
Radiology 28 years experience
Interesting question: Xray, ct scan, MRI scan, ultrasound have black backgrounds. Nuclear medicine scans such as bone scans, pet/ct scans, and gallbladder scans have white backgrounds.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
2 comments
Dr. Ronald Holzman commented
Mammography, Breast Ultrasound 49 years experience
I have however seen x-rays from outside the U/S black on white. This however may only be a reproduction or reversal image.
Feb 16, 2013
Dr. Paul Garrett commented
Radiology 42 years experience
More and more plain films are read "inverted", that is black on white, as some fine details in bone trabeculation and small pneumothoraces are more conspicuous that way.
Dec 30, 2015
Dr. Michael Koronaanswered
Radiology - Interventional 35 years experience
All of them: Digital imaging allows you to look at the images either way.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Neil Lallanswered
Radiology 14 years experience
Nuclear Medicine: In general, scans done in nuclear medicine traditionally have a white "background" (in other words, air is white). Pretty much all other studies traditionally have a black background (air is black). But these are all read on computers and can be switched easily.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Stacy Yamasakianswered
Radiology 36 years experience
All types: Most digital images can be inverted and printed both ways. Most images have black backgrounds. Angiograms and fluoroscopy is often a white background.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Stephen Hofkinanswered
Radiology 30 years experience
Can be either way: Historically most studies are read with a black background due to the nature of film developing process. However most images are digital and black on white and white on black can be changed with a click of the mouse. Most radiologists prefer white on black, with the exception of live fluoroscopy
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Nov 29, 2020
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