It controls breathing. Fluoroscopy shows whether it moves properly. It can also show various parts of the digestive tract. Barium swallow and barium enema tests both use fluoroscopy. Finally, it may be used to guide the passage of catheters or other tools through the body.
Fluoroscopy is done in an office or the radiology section of a hospital.
The room may be darkened, so the examiner can see the screen clearly. For many tests, fluoroscopy may be only a brief part of the overall procedure. Pregnant women should not have fluoroscopy. Healthcare providers now limit this test to the minimum amount of time needed to see the area being tested, but it is still not safe in pregnancy. When these precautions are observed, it is a relatively safe procedure.