Chest x Ray is the most cdmmon means of examining the condition of the lungs. Areas of inflammation and abnormal tissue. inhaled foreign bodies, and the abnormal presence of fluid in and outside of the lungs are demonstrated by chest X-ray. These changes and the preesence of other abnormal shadows in the lungs may aid in the diagnosis of disorders such as pneumonia, lung cancer and collapsed lung.
Chest x-rays expose the patient briefly to a minimum amount of radiation. Any radiation exposure has some risk to the tissues of the body. There is always a slight chance of damage to cells or tissue from radiation, including the low levels of radiation used for this test. The radiation exposure in a chest x-ray is minimized by the type of x-ray high-speed film, which does not require as much radiation exposure as in the past. In an emergency, the results of a chest X-ray can be available within a few minutes for review by your doctor. If it is not an emergency, results are usually ready the same day or the next day.