Chest X-Ray: Purpose, Procedure, and Risks - Healthline

What is a chest X-ray? An X-ray is an imaging test that uses small amounts of radiation to produce pictures of the organs, tissues, and bones of the body. HealthlineHealthConditionsDiscoverPlanConnectSubscribeChestX-RayMedicallyreviewedbyDeborahWeatherspoon,Ph.D.,R.N.,CRNA—WrittenbyBrianKrans—UpdatedonJune23,2017PurposePreparationProcedureComplicationsFollow-upWhatisachestX-ray?AnX-rayisanimagingtestthatusessmallamountsofradiationtoproducepicturesoftheorgans,tissues,andbonesofthebody.Whenfocusedonthechest,itcanhelpspotabnormalitiesordiseasesoftheairways,bloodvessels,bones,heart,andlungs.ChestX-rayscanalsodetermineifyouhavefluidinyourlungs,orfluidorairsurroundingyourlungs.YourdoctorcouldorderachestX-rayforavarietyofreasons,includingtoassessinjuriesresultingfromanaccidentortomonitortheprogressionofadisease,suchascysticfibrosis.YoumightalsoneedachestX-rayifyougototheemergencyroomwithchestpainorifyou’vebeeninvolvedinanaccidentthatincludedforcetoyourchestarea.AchestX-rayisaneasy,quick,andeffectivetestthathasbeenusefulfordecadestohelpdoctorsviewsomeofyourmostvitalorgans.WhydoIneedachestX-ray?YourdoctormayorderachestX-rayiftheysuspectthatyoursymptomshaveaconnectiontoproblemsinyourchest.Suspicioussymptomsmayinclude:chestpainfeverpersistentcoughshortnessofbreathThesesymptomscouldbetheresultofthefollowingconditions,whichachestX-raycandetect:brokenribsemphysema(along-term,progressivelungconditionthatcausesbreathingdifficulties)heartfailurelungcancerpneumoniapneumothorax(acollectionofairinthespacebetweenyourlungsandyourchestwall)AnotheruseforachestX-rayistoseethesizeandshapeofyourheart.Abnormalitiesinthesizeandshapeofyourheartcanindicateissueswithheartfunction.DoctorssometimesusechestX-raystomonitoryourprogressaftersurgerytothechestarea.Doctorscanchecktoseethatanyimplantedmaterialsareintherightplace,andtheycanmakesureyou’renotexperiencinganyairleaksorfluidbuildup.Callout:HowdoX-rayshelpdiagnoseCOPD?»HowdoIprepareforachestX-ray?ChestX-raysrequireverylittlepreparationonthepartofthepersongettingit.Youwillneedtoremoveanyjewelry,eyeglasses,bodypiercings,orothermetalonyourperson.Tellyourdoctorifyouhaveasurgicallyimplanteddevice,suchasaheartvalveorpacemaker.YourdoctormayoptforachestX-rayifyouhavemetalimplants.Otherscans,suchasMRIs,canberiskyforpeoplewhohavemetalintheirbodies.BeforetheX-ray,you’llundressfromthewaistupandchangeintoahospitalgown.HowisachestX-rayperformed?TheX-rayoccursinaspecialroomwithamovableX-raycameraattachedtoalargemetalarm.Youwillstandnexttoa“plate.”ThisplatemaycontainX-rayfilmoraspecialsensorthatrecordstheimagesonacomputer.You’llwearaleadaprontocoveryourgenitals.Thisisbecauseyoursperm(men)andeggs(women)couldbedamagedfromtheradiation.TheX-raytechnicianwilltellyouhowtostandandwillrecordbothfrontandsideviewsofyourchest.Whiletheimagesaretaken,you’llneedtoholdyourbreathsothatyourcheststayscompletelystill.Ifyoumove,theimagesmightturnoutblurry.Astheradiationpassesthroughyourbodyandontotheplate,densermaterials,suchasboneandthemusclesofyourheart,willappearwhite.Aftertheimageshavebeencaptured—whichshouldtake20minutesorso—yourpartiscomplete.Youcanchangebackintoyourclothesandgoaboutyourday.WhatarethecomplicationsassociatedwithachestX-ray?DoctorsagreethatexposuretothesmallamountofradiationproducedduringanX-rayiswellworthitbecauseofthediagnosticbenefitsthetestprovides.However,doctorsdon’trecommendX-raysifyouarepregnant.Thisisbecauseradiationcanharmyourunbornbaby.Ifyoubelieveyouarepregnant,makesureyoutellyourdoctor.WhathappensafterachestX-ray?AlabusuallydevelopstheimagesfromachestX-rayonlargesheetsoffilm.Whenviewedagainstalitbackground,yourdoctorcanlookforanarrayofproblems,fromtumorstobrokenbones.Aradiologistalsogoesovertheimagesandgivesyourdoctortheirinterpretation.YourdoctorwilldiscusstheresultsofyourX-raywithyouatafollow-upappointment.LastmedicallyreviewedonJune22,2017MedicallyreviewedbyDeborahWeatherspoon,Ph.D.,R.N.,CRNA—WrittenbyBrianKrans—UpdatedonJune23,2017ReadthisnextHowDoX-RaysHelpDiagnoseCOPD?MedicallyreviewedbyAlanaBiggers,M.D.,MPHIfyourdoctorsuspectsyouhaveCOPD,you’lllikelyundergoafewdifferenttests,includingachestX-ray.LearnhowtoprepareforanX-rayand…READMOREHemopneumothoraxMedicallyreviewedbyJudithMarcin,M.D.Learnabouthemopneumothorax,includingpossibletreatmentoptions.READMOREWhatIsaPositronEmissionTomography(PET)Scan?Apositronemissiontomography(PET)scanisanimagingtestthatusesaspecialdyewithradioactivetracers.Learnwhyit’sperformedandhowto…READMOREC-ReactiveProteinTestC-reactiveproteinisproducedbytheliverinresponsetoinflammation.AC-reactiveproteintest,orCRPtest,measurestheamountofCRPinyour…READMOREErythrocyteSedimentationRateTest(ESRTest)MedicallyreviewedbyMeredithGoodwin,MD,FAAFPAnESR(erythrocytesedimentationratetest)isabloodtestthathelpsdetectinflammationfromautoimmunediseases,infection,cancer,andmore.READMOREMRIvs.X-Ray:WhatYouNeedtoKnowMedicallyreviewedbyAngelicaBalingit,MDLearntheinsandoutsofMRIvs.X-rayimagingtests,includingtheprosandconsofeachtest,howtheycomparetoCTscans,howmuchtheycost,and…READMOREParacentesis(AbdominalTap)MedicallyreviewedbyAlanaBiggers,M.D.,MPHParacentesisisaproceduretoremoveexcessfluidfromtheabdominalcavity.Thisfluidbuildupiscalledas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