Final answer:
True, X-ray tables can be classified based on whether they are tilting or non-tilting, if they have a free-floating or stationary tabletop, and if they have adjustable or non-adjustable height, which all facilitate different types of radiographic examinations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is True. X-ray tables are indeed classified by several features, including whether they are tilting or non-tilting, if they have a free-floating or stationary tabletop, and whether their height is adjustable or non-adjustable. These various configurations accommodate different types of diagnostic procedures. For instance, tilting tables allow for examinations requiring the patient to be positioned at various angles, while free-floating tabletops can provide ease of positioning the patient during the scan and are often found in conjunction with advanced imaging systems like computed tomography (CT) scanners. CT scanners offer a significant advancement over standard X-rays by producing detailed images through complex computer image processing. This is achieved by taking multiple images, or slices, as the patient moves through the scanner on a table, allowing for a highly detailed, three-dimensional view of tissues and structures.
The development of computed tomography, which included contributions from G. Hounsfield and A. Cormack, who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1979, has added high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging to the toolkit available for medical diagnoses. However, traditional X-rays remain prevalent in specific scenarios like detecting fractures and in dentistry, despite the radiation risks, which are mitigated through proper shielding and limiting exposure.