Chest X-Ray | Johns Hopkins Medicine

A chest X-ray is an imaging test that uses X-rays to look at the structures and organs in your chest. It can help your healthcare provider see how well your ... SkipNavigation ImportantUpdates:COVID-19vaccinations|RecallonPhilipsRespironicsmedicaldevices COVID-19:Wearevaccinatingalleligiblepatients.Learnmore: Vaccines,Boosters&AdditionalDoses|Testing|PatientCare|VisitorGuidelines|Coronavirus| EmailAlerts   PhilipsRespironicsissuedarecallforsomeCPAPandBiLevelPAPdevicesandmechanicalventilators.Learnmore. HealthHome Treatments,TestsandTherapies ChestX-Ray ShareonFacebook ShareonTwitter ShareonLinkedin ShareonPinterest ShareviaEmail PrintthisPage WhatisachestX-ray? AchestX-rayisanimagingtestthatusesX-raystolookatthestructures andorgansinyourchest.Itcanhelpyourhealthcareproviderseehowwell yourlungsandheartareworking.Certainheartproblemscancausechanges inyourlungs.Certaindiseasescancausechangesinthestructureofthe heartorlungs. ChestX-rayscanshowyourhealthcareproviderthesize,shape,and locationofthefollowing: Heart Lungs Bronchi Aorta Pulmonaryarteries Middlechestarea(mediastinum) Bonesofyourchest Itusesasmallamountofradiationtomakepicturesoftheseareas. WhymightIneedachestX-ray? YourhealthcareprovidermayorderachestX-raytoseehowwellyourheart orlungsareworking.YoumayneedachestX-rayifitissuspectedthat youhaveanyofthefollowing: Enlargedheartwhichcanmeanyouhaveacongenitalheartdefector cardiomyopathy Fluidinthespacebetweenyourlungsandyourchestwall(pleural effusion) Pneumoniaoranotherlungproblem Ballooningoftheaortaoranothergreatbloodvessel(aneurysm) Brokenbone Hardeningofaheartvalveoraorta(calcification) Tumorsorcancer Diaphragmthathasmovedoutofplace(hernia) Inflammationoftheliningofthelung(pleuritis) Fluidinthelungs(pulmonaryedema)whichcanmeanyouhave congestiveheartfailure YoumayalsoneedachestX-ray: Aspartofacompletephysicalexamorbeforeyouhavesurgery Tocheckonsymptomsrelatedtotheheartorlungs Toseehowwelltreatmentifworkingorhowadiseaseis progressing Tocheckonyourlungsandchestcavityaftersurgery Toseewhereimplantedpacemakerwiresandotherinternaldevices arelocated Theseotherdevicesincludecentralvenouscatheters,endotrachealtubes, chesttubes,andnasogastrictubes. YourhealthcareprovidermayhaveotherreasonstorecommendachestX-ray. WhataretherisksofachestX-ray? Youmaywanttoaskyourhealthcareproviderabouttheamountofradiation usedduringthetest.Alsoaskabouttherisksastheyapplytoyou. ConsiderwritingdownallX-raysyouget,includingpastscansandX-rays forotherhealthreasons.Showthislisttoyourhealthcareprovider.The risksofradiationexposuremaybetiedtothenumberofX-raysyouhave andtheX-raytreatmentsyouhaveovertime. Tellyourhealthcareproviderifyouarepregnantorthinkyoumaybe pregnant.Radiationexposureduringpregnancymayleadtobirthdefects. Youmayhaveotherrisksdependingonyourspecifichealthcondition.Talk withyourhealthcareprovideraboutanyconcernsyouhavebeforethe procedure. HowdoIgetreadyforachestX-ray? Yourhealthcareproviderwillexplaintheproceduretoyou.Askany questionsyouhaveabouttheprocedure. Youmaybeaskedtosignaconsentformthatgivespermissiontodo theprocedure.Readtheformcarefullyandaskquestionsif anythingisnotclear. Youusuallydonotneedtostopeatingordrinkingbeforethetest. Youalsousuallywillnotneedmedicinetohelpyourelax (sedation). Tellyourhealthcareproviderifyouarepregnantorthinkyoumay bepregnant. Wearclothingthatyoucaneasilytakeoff.Orwearclothingthat letstheradiologistreachyourchest. Tellyourhealthcareproviderifyouhaveanybodypiercingson yourchest. Followanyotherinstructionsyourhealthcareprovidergivesyouto getready. WhathappensduringachestX-ray? YoumayhaveachestX-rayasanoutpatientoraspartofyourstayina hospital.Thewaythetestisdonemayvarydependingonyourconditionand yourhealthcareprovider’spractices. Generally,achestX-rayfollowsthisprocess: Youwillbeaskedtoremoveanyclothing,jewelry,orotherobjects thatmaygetinthewayofthetest. Youwillbegivenagowntowear. Youmaybeaskedtoliedown,sit,orstand.Yourpositiondepends onwhatimagesthetechnologistneeds. Forastandingorsittingimage,youwillstandorsitinfrontof theX-rayplate.Youwillbeaskedtorollyourshouldersforward, takeinadeepbreath,andholdituntiltheX-rayismade.Ifyou areunabletoholdyourbreath,thetechnologistwilltakethe picturebywatchinghowyoubreathe. YouwillneedtostaystillduringtheX-ray.Movingduringthe X-raymayaffectthequalityoftheimage. Foraside-angleviewofthechest,youwillbeaskedtoturnto yoursideandraiseyourarmsaboveyourhead.Youwillbetoldto takeinadeepbreathandholditastheX-rayismade. Thetechnologistwillstepbehindaspecialwindowwhiletheimages arebeingmade. ThechestX-rayisnotpainful.Butyoumayhavesomediscomfortorpain frommovingintodifferentpositionsifyouhavehadrecentsurgeryoran injury.Thetechnologistwilluseallpossiblecomfortmeasuresanddothe scanasquicklyaspossibletominimizeanydiscomfortorpain. WhathappensafterachestX-ray? YoudonotneedanyspecialcareafterachestX-ray.Yourhealthcare providermaygiveyouotherinstructions,dependingonyoursituation. FindaTreatmentCenter MedicalImaging FindAdditionalTreatmentCentersat: HowardCountyGeneralHospital SibleyMemorialHospital SuburbanHospital Related X-Rays AbdominalUltrasound BariumEnema Meckel’sScanforChildren RequestanAppointment FindaDoctor 410-955-5000 Maryland 855-695-4872 OutsideofMaryland +1-410-502-7683 International FindaDoctor SeeMore Related Radiology X-Rays Imaging AbdominalUltrasound Imaging BariumEnema RelatedTopics Pulmonary ScreeningandDiagnostics Biopsies