A chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.
Alternative Names:
Chest radiography; Serial chest x-ray; X-ray - chest
How the test is performed:
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:
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.
How the test will feel:
There is no discomfort. The film plate may feel cold.
Review Date: 7/18/2007
Reviewed By: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Diagnostic Imaging
