Chest x-ray

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Adenocarcinoma - chest X-ray	Aortic rupture, chest X-ray	Bronchial cancer - chest X-ray	Coal worker's lungs - chest X-ray
Coal workers pneumoconiosis, complicated	Coal workers pneumoconiosis, complicated #2	Coal workers pneumoconiosis - stage II	Coal workers pneumoconiosis - stage II #2
Coccidioidomycosis - chest x-ray	Lung cancer, frontal chest X-ray	Lung mass, right upper lung - chest X-ray	Lung nodule, right middle lobe - chest X-ray
Lung nodule - front view chest X-ray	Pulmonary mass - side view chest X-ray	Pulmonary nodule - front view chest X-ray	Sarcoid, stage II - chest X-ray
Sarcoid, stage IV - chest X-ray	Tuberculosis, advanced - chest X-rays

A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.

Chest radiography; Serial chest x-ray; X-ray - chest

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.

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Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant. Chest x-rays are generally avoided during the first six months of pregnancy. You must wear a hospital gown and remove all jewelry.

There is no discomfort. The film plate may feel cold.

Your doctor may order a chest x-ray if you have any of the following symptoms:

• A persistent cough
• Chest injury
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty breathing

It may also be done if you have signs of tuberculosis, lung cancer, or other chest or lung disease.

A serial chest x-ray (repeated) may be used to evaluate or monitor changes found on a previous chest x-ray.

Review Date: 08/13/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).