Chest radiography is a more formal term for the process of obtaining chest x-rays. This procedure involves the use of controlled bursts of x-ray radiation to create usable images of the chest's internal organs and structures, including the lungs, heart, blood vessels, ribs, and spinal bones. Once these images are made, they are used to detect the presence of numerous illnesses or abnormalities.
Reasons for a Chest X-Ray
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, you may be scheduled for a chest x-ray for a wide variety of reasons. Common symptoms that indicate the need for an x-ray include chest pain, persistent coughing, breathing difficulties, and coughing that produces blood. You may also require an x-ray if you suffer direct trauma to your chest, or if you exhibit signs of lung cancer, tuberculosis, emphysema, pneumonia, or other lung or chest disorders.
X-Ray Procedures
Typically, your x-rays will be taken in either the radiology department of a hospital or in your doctor's office. In both cases, the procedure will be performed by a qualified x-ray technician. If you are pregnant, inform your doctor or the x-ray technician in advance. As a rule, you should not seek a chest x-ray if your pregnancy is in its first six months. Immediately prior to your procedure, you will need to remove any obstructing jewelry and replace the clothes on your upper body with a hospital gown.
During the procedure, a technician will position you near the film or digital medium used to record the x-ray image. He will then ask you to hold your breath while x-rays are aimed through your chest toward the film. Typically, he will obtain an image of your chest from front to back (a posterior-anterior view), as well as an image of your chest from one side to the other (a lateral view). The whole process is usually done in roughly ten minutes. Once your procedure is finished, the results will be reviewed by a physician who specializes in interpreting x-ray images (a radiologist), who will then pass on his findings to your doctor. Your doctor will use these findings to make an accurate diagnosis of your condition, or to clear you if no abnormalities are uncovered. If necessary, the x-ray process may be repeated to confirm the initial results, explore other potential disease processes, or monitor an ongoing condition.
Safety Issues
Your x-ray technician will take steps to ensure your safety throughout the x-ray process. According to the American Heart Association, your radiation exposure during the average chest x-ray is equal to roughly one-fifth of the exposure you would receive from natural sun and ground radiation in one year. The general consensus is that the value of the information gained through a chest x-ray far outweighs the risks of radiation side effects. X-ray exposure has a proportionately larger effect on children. Consult your doctor if you are concerned about exposure levels for yourself or your child.
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