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Chest X-rayRead the Chest X-ray article » What is a chest X-ray?A chest X-ray is a radiology test that involves exposing the chest briefly to radiation to produce an image of the chest and the internal organs of the chest. An X-ray film is positioned against the body opposite the camera, which sends out a very small dose of a radiation beam. As the radiation penetrates the body, it is absorbed in varying amounts by different body tissues depending on the tissue's composition of air, water, blood, bone, or muscle. Bones, for example, absorb much of the X-ray radiation while lung tissue (which is filled with mostly air) absorbs very little, allowing most of the X-ray beam to pass through the lung.
What is a shadow on a chest X-ray?Due to the differences in their composition (and, therefore, varying degrees of penetration of the X-ray beam), the lungs, heart, aorta, and bones of the chest each can be distinctly visualized on the chest X-ray. The X-ray film records these differences to produce an image of body tissue structures and these are shadows seen on the X-ray. The white shadows on chest X-ray represent more dense or solid tissues, such as bone or heart, and the darker shadows on the chest X-ray represent air filled tissues, such as lungs. How is the chest X-ray procedure performed?Patients obtaining a chest X-ray will often be requested to use an X-ray gown, and extra metallic objects such as jewelry are removed from the chest and/or neck areas. These objects can block X-ray penetration, making the result less accurate. Patients may be asked to take a deep breath and hold it during the chest X-ray in order to inflate the lungs to their maximum, which increases the visibility of different tissues within the chest. The chest X-ray procedure often involves a view from the back to the front of the body as well as a view from the side. The view from the side is called a lateral ... Recommended Reading Related to Chest X-rayWhat is microsporidiosis? What causes the disease?Microsporidiosis is a disease caused by infection with microscopic organisms called microsporidia. Microsporidia are eukaryotic parasites that must live within other host cells in which they can produce infective spores. These spores cause microsporidiosis, a disease which is primarily seen in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Microsporidiosis can cause infection of the intestine, lung, kidney, brain, sinuses, muscles, and eyes. Although there are over 1,200 species of microsporidia, the most prevalent pathogens (disease-causing agents) in humans include Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon cuniculi, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis. How are microsporidia transmitted?Microsporidia spores are released from the stool and urine of infected animals. A number of animals, including insects, birds, and mammals, can serve a... Other Related Chest X-ray ArticlesEmergency Contact for Sandy Springs
Nearby Sandy Springs Hospitals * Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite  Northside Hospital  Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta  Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta  Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital  Piedmont Hospital  Shepherd Center  Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital  Ridgeview Institute  Emory Adventist Hospital  Atlanta VA Medical Center  Hillside Hospital  Children's Healthcare at Egleston  Emory University Hospital  North Fulton Regional Hospital  Laurel Heights Hospital  Wellstar Kennestone Hospital  Kindred Hospital Atlanta  DeKalb Medical Center  Emory University Hospital Midtown  Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta  Atlanta Medical Center  DeKalb Medical  Grady Health System  Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth  Wellstar Cobb Hospital  Devereux Georgia Treatment Network  Glancy Rehabilitation Center  Emory Johns Creek Hospital  Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta  Regency Hospital of South Atlanta  South Fulton Medical Center  DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale  Emory Eastside Medical Center  Gwinnett Medical Center  Anchor Hospital  Northside Hospital Forsyth  SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine  Northside Hospital Cherokee  Southern Regional Medical Center  Wellstar Douglas Hospital  Inner Harbour Hospitals  Wellstar Paulding Hospital  Rockdale Medical Center  Henry Medical Center  Cartersville Medical Center  Piedmont Fayette Hospital  Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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Congestive Heart Failure
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs. A poor blood supply resulting from congestive heart failure may cause the body's organ systems to fail, leading to a weakened heart muscle and fluid accumulation in the lungs and body tissue. There are many diseases that can impair pumping efficiency and symptoms of congestive heart failure including fatigue, diminished exercise capacity, shortness of breath, and swelling. Treatments include lifestyle modifications, medications, heart transplant, and therapy.
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Lung Cancer
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Ovarian Cancer
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Pneumonia
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Tuberculosis
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Melanoma
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Stomach Cancer
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Sarcoidosis
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Acute Bronchitis
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Oral Cancer
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Chronic Cough
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Heart Attack
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Polycythemia (High Red Blood Cell Count)
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Hodgkin's Disease
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Scleroderma
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Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
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Emphysema
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
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Pulmonary Fibrosis
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Anal Cancer
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Cystic Fibrosis
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Pleurisy (Pleuritis)
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Heart Murmur
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Pulmonary Edema
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Pneumothorax
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Pleural Effusion
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Chronic Bronchitis
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Male Breast Cancer
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