Chest X-ray: What Affects The Test
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What Affects the Test
Reasons why the test results may not be helpful include:
- Not being able to stay still and hold your breath when asked during the test.
- Metal objects (such as spinal fixation rods and metal jewelry or belts) that get in the way of the X-ray picture.
- Obesity, which can hide chest problems or make it hard to get a good X-ray picture.
- Chest pain that can make it hard for you to take a deep breath during the X-ray.
- Scarring from past lung surgery or changes from a chronic disease, which may make the X-ray pictures hard to read.
A picture taken with a portable machine may not be as clear as those made by a stationary machine.
| Last updated: | September 11, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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