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Chest X-ray (Chest Radiography)
Category: Imaging
🔍 Indications
- Assist in diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia, lung tumors, metastasis
- Detect pulmonary, cardiovascular, and skeletal disorders
- Identify presence of chest trauma
- Confirm correct placement of tubes and catheters
- Evaluate positive PPD or Mantoux test
- Monitor disease progression or resolution
- Evaluate response to therapeutic regimen
⚠️ Contraindications
- Pregnancy (unless benefits outweigh risks)
⚕️ Procedure
- Patient removes clothing, jewelry above waist; puts on gown.
- For PA view: patient stands facing cassette, hands on hips, inhales deeply, holds breath.
- For lateral view: chest positioned on left side against image holder, hands raised above head.
- Technician stands behind protective shield while films are developed.
📋 Nursing Care
Before:
- Remove all metallic objects
- No special preparation required
- Ensure patient not pregnant
- Assess ability to hold breath
- Provide appropriate clothing
- Instruct patient to cooperate and remain still
After:
- No special care required
- If bedside test, reposition patient comfortably
✅ Normal Results
Normal lung fields, cardiac size, mediastinal structures, thoracic spine, ribs, and diaphragm
⚠️ Abnormal Results
- Atelectasis
- Bronchitis
- Cardiomegaly
- Flattened diaphragm (COPD)
- Foreign bodies
- Irregular patchy infiltrates (pneumonia)
- Lung tumors
- Malposition of tubes or wires
- Fractures
- Pericardial effusion
- Pericarditis
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumothorax
- Pulmonary infiltrates
- Scoliosis
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Tuberculosis
- Widened mediastinum