Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Imaging Services >
  • Our Services >
  • Fluoroscopy
Imaging Services
Our Services
Calcium Scoring CT Scan
Fluoroscopy
Interventional Radiology
Nuclear Medicine
PET & CT Scan
General X-ray Services
3T MRI Systems
CT Scan
Digital Mammography
Bone Densitometry (DXA)
Lung Screening Program
Ultrasound Imaging
Wide-opening MRI
3D Printing
Locations
Make an Appointment
Advance Preparation
What to Expect During Your Visit
Your Test Results
Contact Us
Imaging Services
Our Services
Calcium Scoring CT Scan
Fluoroscopy
Interventional Radiology
Nuclear Medicine
PET & CT Scan
General X-ray Services
3T MRI Systems
CT Scan
Digital Mammography
Bone Densitometry (DXA)
Lung Screening Program
Ultrasound Imaging
Wide-opening MRI
3D Printing
Locations
Make an Appointment
Advance Preparation
What to Expect During Your Visit
Your Test Results
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Fluoroscopy at UPMC

What Is Fluoroscopy?

Fluoroscopy is a test that looks inside the body.

While a normal x-ray takes a static image, fluoroscopy uses a constant x-ray beam to produce moving images.

Fluoroscopy often involves a contrast agent, like a dye or barium, so the structures inside the body show up better.

Depending on what part of the body your doctor needs to see, you'll receive the contrast agent:

  • By a shot or an IV.
  • By mouth.
  • As an enema.
  • Injected into a fistula or ostomy.

Doctors often use fluoroscopy to diagnose problems in the digestive tractor in a joint like the shoulder, wrist, or knee.

Find an imaging location near you

What Are the Benefits of Fluoroscopy Exams?

The moving images of fluoroscopy give more details than the still images of an x-ray or MRI.

For instance, your doctor can see how:

  • Blood moves through the heart.
  • Digestive waste moves through the intestine.
  • A joint moves.

This makes it easier for doctors to diagnose a wide range of health problems.

You can often go home the same day. It usually doesn't require sedation.

You may have to follow certain instructions two days before your fluoroscopy.

For instance, if your doctor wants to see the digestive tract, you may need to follow a liquid diet. Your doctor will give you the full details of what you should and shouldn't eat or drink.

But if your fluoroscopy is to study a joint, you'll need to do little to prepare.

You should let your doctor know if you are or may be pregnant. The radiation involved with fluoroscopy can be harmful to a fetus.

You should also tell your doctor about any allergies, in case you could react to a contrast agent.

Let your doctor know what medicines you take. They may ask you to briefly stop taking certain drugs that could affect the test.

If you have an insulin pump or glucose monitor, the readings can be affected by the radiation. Notify the tech before starting the exam if you have one. It is recommended that you remove the device if possible, if you cannot, monitor your readings closely to ensure they are accurate or replace with a new device after exam.

When you arrive, you'll need to take off all jewelry and change into a hospital gown.

Your imaging tech may ask you to take a contrast agent by mouth, IV, shot, or enema.

Most fluoroscopy exams take 20 to 30 minutes. Exams such as enemas and SBFT (small bowl follow throughs) generally take at least an hour, if not longer. It is different for every person, depending on their anatomy.

Some exams require sedation. For instance, the doctor may need to put a catheter in a heart valve to look for a heart problem.

During the fluoroscopy exam, you'll either lie down on a table or stand. This depends on what part of your body the doctor wants to see.

The tech may ask you to move in a certain way or hold your breath. This lets them better see what's going on in the body.

After Your Fluoroscopy

If your test doesn't involve sedation, you can leave the hospital soon after the exam.

If you had a contrast agent, you may receive details on how to flush it out. For instance, you may need to drink more water.

Watch out for symptoms such as:

  • Redness, pain, or swelling at an IV or injection site. This could suggest an infection.
  • Hives, itchy skin, or nausea. This could suggest an infection or allergic reaction.

If you have any symptoms you're concerned about, call your doctor right away.

Your test results

Once your doctor reviews the results, they'll call you or schedule an in-person visit to discuss them.

You can also view your test results at your free UPMC patient portal account.

UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login