What is a chest x-ray?

The chest X-ray is the most common radiologic procedure.

What it the process?

The chest X-ray technique in young children involves two views. The first view is from the front, and the second is a side view.

Why is it done?

The X-ray is projected toward the chest to show the heart, lungs, bones, and soft tissues. The actual time of the average Xray exposure is very short-usually less than one-half second. Some of the radiation goes through the part of the body being tested and creates the X-ray image.

Icon: 
icon-x-ray
Parent Content Group: 
Testing Procedures