What is a chest X-ray?
What is a shadow on a chest X-ray?
How is the chest X-ray procedure performed?
Patients obtaining a chest X-ray will often be requested to use an X-ray gown, and extra metallic objects such as jewelry are removed from the chest and/or neck areas. These objects can block X-ray penetration, making the result less accurate. Patients may be asked to take a deep breath and hold it during the chest X-ray in order to inflate the lungs to their maximum, which increases the visibility of different tissues within the chest.
The chest X-ray procedure often involves a view from the back to the front of the body as well as a view from the side. The view from the side is called a lateral chest X-ray. Occasionally, different angles are added in order for the radiologist to interpret certain specific areas of the chest.
The radiology technologist or technician is a trained, certified assistant to the radiologist who will help the patient during the X-ray and actually perform the X-ray test procedure. After the chest X-ray is taken and recorded on the X-ray film, the film is placed into a developing machine, and this picture (which is essentially a photographic negative) is examined and interpreted by the radiologist.
How do doctors interpret chest X-rays?
A radiologist is a physician specialist trained to interpret images of the body produced on films. After the films are produced by the technician they are developed and reviewed by the radiologist for interpretation. After the radiologist reviews the chest X-ray, occasionally further images or angles may be necessary. Once all the films have been reviewed by the radiologist, a report is generated which is transmitted to the ordering practitioner.
The doctors interpreting the films place the films in front of a source of light for better visualization of the shadows on the chest X-ray. This usually consists of a fluorescent light source placed in metal box and covered by a white plastic.
More recently, newer technology has replaced this old reading technique in many health care facilities and radiology offices. This advanced technology has eliminated the need for the actual physical films to be placed on a light box for interpretation. The images, once taken and developed, are uploaded into a computer with special software that enables digital images to be viewed on a computer screen. The doctor can look at the images on the screen, interpret the results, and comment on the computer all within minutes after the images were taken.
Additionally, this technology may allow for ability to look at any previous images taken from the same patient. It also essentially eliminates the possibility of lost X-rays and speeds up the interpretation of X-rays, and the communication between doctors about the results.
Where are chest X-ray's performed?
Chest X-rays are one the most commonly ordered radiology tests. Once they are ordered by a physician, they can be performed in hospitals, emergency rooms,outpatient radiology facilities, and some doctors offices.
What are the risks of a chest X-ray?
Chest X-rays expose the patient briefly to a minimum amount of radiation. Any radiation exposure has some risk to the tissues of the body. The radiation exposure in a chest X-ray is minimized by the type of X-ray high-speed film, which does not require as much radiation exposure as in the past. The radiology technician is guided by technique standards which have been established by national and international guidelines. These guidelines are designed and reviewed by both the Department of Health and Human Services and national and international radiology protection councils.
Women, who are pregnant, especially in early pregnancy, should notify their physicians, as the fetus is at risk for harm with any radiology technique. X-rays are typically avoided in pregnant patients unless absolutely necessary, in which case, the patient's abdomenis covered with a special gown to deflect the radiation from the fetus.
What are reasons for ordering chest X-rays?
There are many reasons why doctors order chest X-rays. Frequently, they are ordered for symptoms of shortness of breath, cough, or chest pain. However, there are many other signs and symptoms that may prompt a doctor to order chest X-rays. They may also be done as a routine check examination.
Sometimes chest X-rays are required before operations to see if there is any evidence of heart or lung disease that may need to be addressed before the procedure. This is called a pre-operative chest X-ray (or pre-op chest X-ray requirement).
Who can interpret chest X-rays?
Many doctors are trained to interpret chest X-rays. In addition to radiologists, who have special training in reading all radiology films, primary care physicians, internists, pediatricians, emergency room doctors, anesthesiologists, heart doctors (cardiologist), lung doctors (pulmonologist) and lung surgeons are the doctors who frequently interpret chest X-rays as a part of their routine practice.
What can be seen on normal chest X-ray?
Normal chest X-ray shows normal size and shape of the chest wall and the main structures in the chest.
As described earlier, white shadows on the chest X-ray signify solid structures and fluids such as, bone of the rib cage, vertebrae, heart, aorta, and bones of the shoulders. The dark background on the chest X-rays represents air filled lungs. These lung fields are seen on either side of the heart and the vertebrae located in the center of the film.
What are some common chest X-ray abnormalities?
Chest X-ray is generally used in combination with other clinical data such as, physical examination and the patient's history and symptoms. It can also be used in combination of other radiology test to support, confirm, or exclude many conditions or diagnoses.
A chest X-ray can be used to define abnormalities of the lungs such as excessive fluid (fluid overload or pulmonary edema) fluid around the lung (pleurisy), pneumonia,bronchitis, asthma, cysts, and cancers. Heart abnormalities, including fluid around the heart (pericarditis), an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly), heart failure, or abnormal anatomy of the heart can be revealed on the films. Certain bony structures of the chest and broken bones (rib fracture) or abnormalities of the bones of the spine (vertebral fracture) in the chest can often be detected.
Chest X-Ray At A Glance
- A chest X-ray is most commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs, but can also detect abnormalities in the heart, aorta, and the bones of thethoracic area.
- Extra metallic objects, such as jewelry are removed from the chest and neck areas for a chest X-ray to avoid interference with X-ray penetration and improve accuracy of the interpretation.
- A chest X-ray can be used to diagnose many conditions and diseases such as pleurisy, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, bronchitis, cysts, tumors, cancers, asthma, pericarditis, cardiomegaly, heart failure, and fractures.
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