What's this on my x-ray?

[CharismaticPelican]

Can anybody please tell me what this thing on my x-ray is? I am assuming it's some kind of tonsil stone, but it seems far down. I had an x-ray due to ongoing neck pain at the back of my neck, but the chiropractor wasn't too sure what the bit at the front was. Thanks

@CharismaticPelican not a radiologist, but as you do have a number of upper cervical bone spurs visible, it is possible for a cervical bone spur to break off and be a floating body.

you need the AP image as well to interpret it properly.

Who ordered the xray? They should be able to intepret it.

Yes the responsibility for interpreting it is on the person who ordered the investigation, and if it throws up an unexpected issue and they can’t interpret it or if they don’t know what to do about it they should refer you on to someone who can. Have they done that at all or have they just left it there?

I’m quite surprised that chiropractors can request ionising radiation tbh, I didn’t know that was legal.

@SomethingDifferentBloomed it’s not uncommon for chiropractors to have their own in house XR facilities and chiropractors receive training in radiology and radiography as part of their education…but I would agree if they are performing them they should either be able to fully interpret them or to be referring the XR to someone more experienced to interpret.

Isn’t it just the hyoid bone?

@RobinHumphries hyoid sits more anterior, I think you can see it to the right of the pic .

Apologies I forgot all about this thread. I haven't been back to the chiropractor to ask unfortunately. Although I have a new mobile now and can see the picture a lot more clearly. I am assuming it's a bit of bone spur then as my neck is pretty lumpy and uncomfortable. I did have a car accident as a child with whiplash and then a very physical job so maybe it's something to do with that. At some point at a future appointment I may ask my GP to have a quick look. Thanks for the replies

This is the other (bad) photo for the person that asked

They are not qualified to read X-rays.

That second film is somewhat overexposed IMHO. Where are the markers? Are you in the UK?

Although you can see that the area you were querying on the lateral appears to be to the right of your vertebral column. If the film is oriented correctly (need a L or R on the film to be sure with any accuracy).

The person who took those images is not qualified to read or take Xray’s. They’re of a poor standard.

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