When you experience a sudden injury, getting a fast and accurate diagnosis is your top priority. Knowing whether you need a quick scan or a more detailed image helps you make informed decisions about your care.
At SmartClinic Urgent Care, our owners Dr. John Leung, MD, and Dr. Andy Hsu, MD, provide advanced diagnostic services to patients throughout West Covina, California, and Canyon Country, California. If you suffer a sprain, strain, or suspected fracture, our team offers on-site X-ray services to evaluate your injury without the long wait times of an emergency room.
An X-ray is a quick, non-invasive imaging test that uses a small amount of radiation to create pictures of the dense structures inside your body, like bones. It is the go-to tool for diagnosing broken bones, joint dislocations, and certain chest conditions.
Many people worry about radiation, but a single routine X-ray is highly safe. According to the Radiological Society of North America (2025), the radiation exposure from one adult chest X-ray is minimal, roughly equal to just 10 days of the natural background radiation you experience in daily life.
A computed tomography (CT) scan is a more advanced imaging test that takes a series of X-ray images from different angles around your body. A computer then combines these images to create highly detailed, three-dimensional views of your bones, blood vessels, and soft tissues.
While CT scans offer incredible detail, they also use a higher dose of radiation. The American Cancer Society (2026) notes that a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis delivers about 7.7 millisieverts of radiation, compared to just 0.1 millisieverts from a standard chest X-ray. Because of this, medical providers carefully weigh the immediate diagnostic benefits of a CT scan against cumulative exposure risks, especially since a National Institutes of Health (2025) analysis linked high cumulative exposure from millions of CT scans to long-term health risks.
We use X-rays as the first line of defense for most minor trauma, joint injuries, and suspected fractures. They are fast, highly effective, and expose you to very little radiation.
If your injury involves complex trauma, internal bleeding, or deep abdominal pain, a CT scan may be necessary to see the soft tissues clearly. Our medical team will always recommend the safest, most effective imaging option to get you an accurate diagnosis quickly.
You don't have to spend hours in an emergency room to find out if your bone is broken. If you have suffered a recent injury, contact our office or walk into one of our clinics today to get the professional care you deserve.
