Chest X-ray
Chest X-ray is the basic and most commonly performed imaging study in the diagnosis of respiratory diseases. Its popularity is due to the fact that it is non-invasive, inexpensive, easy to perform and requires no special preparation. It is indicated not only in cases of suspected heart or lung disease, but also for screening purposes.
X-ray makes it possible to image the airways, lungs, spine, heart and thoracic bones. This study can be used to diagnose many conditions, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung tumours, emphysema as well as heart diseases. An X-ray also enables analysis of the heart in terms of its size, shape, location and also size of vessels.
Chest diseases
The chest, or thorax, is the part of the torso located between the neck and the abdominal cavity. Its main role is to protect internal organs, mainly the heart and lungs, and allow gas exchange.
The most common chest condition is pain. Patients often describe this pain as a feeling of burning, pressure, crushing, tightness and heaviness. Inflammation developing in the thoracic area can radiate to other parts of the body, such as the shoulders, neck, arms and abdominal area.
Thoracic pain can often have musculoskeletal or visceral origins. Less commonly, it may be the result of cardiac arrhythmias or other cardiac problems. Chest pain may also be caused by respiratory conditions. It is least likely to have a psychogenic origin in patients seeking medical attention.
Patients who experience the following symptoms require immediate medical attention:
- severe, sudden pain in the chest, radiating to the arms, back or neck;
- excessive sweating;
- an accelerated, very slow or irregular heart rate;
- shortness of breath and shallow breathing;
- vomiting or nausea.
In these situations, it is crucial to get medical care as soon as possible. However, a visit to the doctor is necessary not only in emergencies. If chest pain occurs regularly or persists intermittently over a long period of time, medical consultation and diagnosis is advised in order to identify the cause of the condition.
Indications for a chest X-ray
The decision to refer a patient for an X-ray is made by the doctor who takes into account the relevant indications, which include:
- suspected lung infections, such as pneumonia or tuberculosis;
- suspected pneumothorax, atelectasis or pleural effusion;
- suspected cancer (both primary and metastatic tumours), although it is important to remember the low sensitivity of X-ray in this case;
- assessment of the size and structure of the heart;
- assessment of pulmonary circulation capacity;
- assessment of the thoracic aorta;
- assessment of the thoracic oesophageal segment;
- assessment of condition after chest trauma, suspected rib fracture;
- assessment of the position of a foreign body, pacemaker electrodes or endotracheal tube;
- follow-up after central line insertion;
- suspected retrosternal goitre and other mediastinal tumours.
Contraindications for a chest X-ray
The only contraindication to a chest X-ray is pregnancy. However, if an X-ray is necessary and other tests do not provide sufficient information, the doctor may decide to perform an X-ray even in this case. The pregnant patient has the right not to consent to this test. Where a woman is not sure if she is pregnant, the chest X-ray should be postponed and a pregnancy test should be performed.
Preparation for the examination
The examination does not require any special preparation. Before it is performed, the patient must sign a consent form, and female patients must confirm that they are not pregnant. Medical staff will then ask the patient to undress from the waist up.
Jewellery, such as chains and pendants, will also have to be removed, and long hair will have to be pinned up. Clothing, ornaments and hair accessories (e.g., rubber bands) may hinder image analysis and interpretation.
What does a chest X-ray examination look like?
Chest radiography is painless, quick and simple. In a matter of minutes, the doctor will be able to assess whether there are any organ abnormalities or whether everything is normal.
During the examination, the patient stands upright in front of the film cassette or detector, making sure that the chest surface is pressed against the cassette. It is important that the patient stands evenly so that neither side of the chest is closer to the cassette than the other. The patient’s hands should rest on special handles. At the technician’s command, before the exposure, the patient should take a maximum deep breath and hold the air for a few seconds, at which point the picture is taken.
*IMPORTANT! The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Each case should be evaluated individually by a doctor. Consult with your doctor before making any health decisions.