Chest X-ray
Illustrations
Alternative names
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Chest radiography; Serial chest X-ray; X-ray - chest
Definition
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An X-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and the diaphragm.
How the test is performed
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The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an X-ray technician. Two views are usually taken: one in which the X-rays pass through the chest from the back (posterior-anterior view) and one in which the X-rays pass through the chest from one side to the other (lateral view). You stand in front of the machine and must hold your breath when the X-ray is taken.
How to prepare for the test
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Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant. Chest X-rays are generally avoided during the 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy. You must wear a hospital gown and remove all jewelry.
For infants and children:
The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age and previous experience. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:
How the test will feel
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There is no discomfort. The film plate may feel cold.
Why the test is performed
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A chest X-ray may be ordered when an person's symptoms include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, a chest injury, or difficulty in breathing. The test is also used when tuberculosis, lung cancer, or other chest or lung disease is suspected.
A serial chest X-ray (repeated or sequential) may be used to evaluate changes over time of an abnormality found on a chest X-ray (for example, an increase in the size of an abnormality over a period of weeks).
What abnormal results mean
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In the lungs:
In the heart:
- size and shape of the heart determined
- position and shape of the large arteries
In the bones:
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
What the risks are
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There is low radiation exposure. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk is very low compared with the benefits. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of the X-ray.
Update Date: 10/17/2003
Updated by: Jeffrey Brown, M.D., Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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