Chest X-ray
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Test Overview
A chest X-ray is a picture of the chest that shows your heart 
, lungs , airway, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. A chest X-ray also shows the bones of your spine and chest, including your breastbone , ribs , collarbone , and the upper part of your spine . A chest X-ray is the most common test used to find problems inside the chest.
A chest X-ray can help find some problems with the organs and structures inside the chest. Usually two pictures are taken, one from the back of the chest and another from the side. However, doctors cannot always get the information they need from a chest X-ray to find the cause of a problem. If a chest X-ray is not normal or does not give enough information about the chest problem, more specific X-rays or other tests such as a CT scan, ultrasound, or MRI scan may be done.
| Last updated: | January 10, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology, Kenneth B. Sutherland, CD, BSc, MD, FRCPC - Diagnostic Radiology |
| Editors: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer |
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