Serial chest X-ray
Key points
- An X-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and the diaphragm.
- The test is performed in a hospital radiology department or in the health care provider's office by an X-ray technician.
- Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant.
- The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age and previous experience.
Alternative names
Chest radiography; Chest X-ray; X-ray - chest
Definition
An X-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and the diaphragm.
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 1st and 2nd trimesters of pregnancy. You must wear a hospital gown and remove all jewelry.
For infants and children:
The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age and previous experience. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:
- infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
- toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
- preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
- schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
- adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)
How the test will feel
There is no discomfort. The film plate may feel cold.
Why the test is performed
A chest X-ray may be ordered when an person's symptoms include a persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, a chest injury, or difficulty in breathing. The test is also used when tuberculosis, lung cancer, or other chest or lung disease is suspected.
A serial chest X-ray (repeated or sequential) may be used to evaluate changes over time of an abnormality found on a chest X-ray (for example, an increase in the size of an abnormality over a period of weeks).
What abnormal results mean
In the lungs:
- collapsed lung
- collection of fluid around the lung
- lung cancer
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.