Chest x-ray
Chest X-ray
A Chest X-ray (/ˈtʃɛst ˈɛksˌreɪ/), also known as a CXR, is a common diagnostic imaging procedure that uses small amounts of radiation to produce images of the structures within and surrounding the chest, including the heart, lungs, and chest wall.
Etymology
The term "X-ray" is derived from the German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen's initial designation of the radiation as "X", denoting it as an unknown type of radiation. The term "chest" is derived from the Old English "cēast", which is of Germanic origin.
Procedure
A Chest X-ray is typically performed in a hospital or clinic's radiology department. The patient is positioned in front of an X-ray machine and a radiologic technologist captures images of the chest. The images are then interpreted by a Radiologist, a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries using medical imaging techniques.
Uses
Chest X-rays are used to diagnose and monitor a wide range of conditions. They can reveal signs of Lung disease, Heart disease, Infection, Cancer, and other medical conditions. They are also used to monitor the progress of treatments and to check the placement of medical devices like pacemakers and central lines.
Related Terms
- Radiology: The medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the body.
- Lung disease: A type of disease that occurs in the lungs.
- Heart disease: A range of conditions that affect your heart.
- Infection: The invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents.
- Cancer: A group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Chest x-ray
- Wikipedia's article - Chest x-ray
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