Purpose
The chest x-ray is an elemental imaging procedure principally of diagnostic value in the examination of the lungs, the pleural membrane, the heart and the chest and may provide important information in the identification of other diseases. It may help identify symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, difficult breathing, chest pain, coughing up of blood) as lung or heart related or due to other causes and help determine further examinations. During the chest examinations, we look for signs of tumors, circumscribed or diffused parenchymic pneumonia and congestive heart failure. A negative chest x-ray does not preclude all pulmonary diseases.
Preparations
No preparations required.
The Procedure
The chest x-ray images may be taken from one or more directions while breathing in deeply or exhaling completely. If necessary, the procedure may be supplemented with oral contrast material or fluoroscopy.
Contraindications
None.