A chest X-ray is a diagnostic imaging test that produces images of the inside of the chest, including the heart, lungs, blood vessels, airways, and the bones of the chest and spine. It is a quick and non-invasive procedure that uses a small dose of ionizing radiation to create a black-and-white image. Chest X-rays can help healthcare providers diagnose and monitor a variety of conditions, including:

• Heart problems: Changes or abnormalities in the size or shape of the heart can indicate heart valve problems, heart failure, or fluid around the heart.

• Lung problems: Chest X-rays can reveal or provide details on a collapsed lung, pneumonia, and other infections, cancer, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and other conditions that affect the lungs.

• Bone problems: Chest X-rays can detect broken ribs or other bone injuries in the chest.

• Blood vessel problems: The outlines of large blood vessels like the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries can be seen in a chest X-ray.

Chest X-rays can also reveal fluid in or around the lungs or air surrounding a lung. If you go to your doctor or the emergency room with chest pain, a chest injury, or shortness of breath, you will typically get a chest X-ray. The image helps your doctor determine whether you have heart problems, a collapsed lung, pneumonia, broken ribs, emphysema, cancer, or any of several other conditions.