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Chest X-ray
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A chest X-ray is like a picture of the inside of the chest made with a small amount of ionizing radiation. It does not show just one structure: the lungs, heart, airways, and blood vessels all appear in the same image.
The bones of the chest and part of the spine are included as well. It is best pictured as a broad window into the chest, not as an image of the lungs alone.
In brief
A chest X-ray uses a small dose of ionizing radiation to produce an image of the inside of the chest.
A single image includes the lungs, heart, airways, and blood vessels, as well as the bones of the chest and part of the spine. Because all of these structures appear in the same frame, the image provides a broad view of the chest rather than showing only the lungs.
Sources (1)
- Radiological Society of North America and American College of RadiologyChest X-ray (Radiography)Published
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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