Chest X-ray: What To Think About
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What To Think About
- Your X-ray test results may be different from earlier test results because you were tested at a different medical center or you had a different kind of test.
- A chest X-ray usually is not done during pregnancy because the radiation could harm your unborn baby (fetus). However, the chance of harm to your baby is very small. If you need a chest X-ray, you will wear a lead apron to help protect your baby.
- If a chest X-ray is not normal, more specific X-rays or other tests such as a CT scan, ultrasound, MRI scan, or a biopsy may be done.
- Some conditions may not show up on a chest X-ray, such as a small cancer, a pulmonary embolus, or other problem that is hidden by the normal structures in the chest.
- Certain workers, such as people who work with asbestos, may need regular chest X-rays to check for problems caused by asbestos.
| 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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