Chest X-ray: All you need to know about chest X-rays and how to get a scan

What is a Chest X-ray?

A chest X-ray is a non-intrusive and painless diagnostic imaging procedure that uses ionising radiation to produce images of the chest cavity, including structures such as the heart, lungs, and bones. It can provide quick and important information about conditions that could affect the chest and has lower radiation exposure compared with other imaging techniques, such as computed tomography scans (CT scans). Chest X-rays can produce images that help your doctor see abnormalities within the chest, such as tumours, infections, and structural abnormalities.

Why You Might Need a Chest X-ray

Your doctor may recommend a chest X-ray for all sorts of reasons, but they are usually recommended for the following symptoms:

- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain

They are also used for diagnosing conditions such as pneumonia, collapsed lung, lung cancer, broken ribs, and heart failure, as a follow-up to check how certain conditions are progressing or whether your treatment for a condition has been effective. In children, chest X-rays are particularly useful because they are non-invasive. X-rays can also provide results immediately, which is essential for emergency care.

What a Chest X-ray Can Diagnose

Pneumonia

Chest X-rays are an important tool for diagnosing pneumonia as they can reveal areas of infection within the lungs. A virus, bacterial infections, or other germs can cause pneumonia.

Lung Cancer

While chest X-rays can detect certain abnormalities which suggest lung cancer, such as masses within the lungs, they’re less sensitive than CT scans in detecting cancer early. Still, they’re an important screening tool if you’re a smoker or at high risk of lung cancer.

Tuberculosis

If your doctor suspects tuberculosis (TB), they will usually recommend a chest X-ray first, as it can show areas of active TB as irregular white patches in the upper areas of the lungs or hollow spaces within the lung tissue. An X-ray can also reveal fluid build-up in the lining of the lungs, as well as areas that have been affected by TB in the past and have since healed.

Pulmonary Oedema

Pulmonary oedema (fluid around the lungs) is a condition where fluid builds up in the lungs’ air sacs (alveoli), making it hard to breathe. It usually happens due to heart problems but can also be triggered by other conditions. Your doctor can check how much fluid is in the lungs and rule out other lung conditions with a chest X-ray.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chest X-rays can help diagnose COPD by showing whether the lungs are abnormally enlarged, one of the key signs of COPD. However, you’ll need other tests, such as pulmonary function tests, to confirm a COPD diagnosis.

Types of Chest X-Rays

There are three main types of chest X-rays:

Posteroanterior (PA) view

This is a standard view where the X-ray beam passes from the back to the front of the chest. The results show a direct view of the chest from the front.

Anteroposterior (AP) view

This view is less common and tends to be used for patients who cannot sit up or patients who are critically ill. The X-ray beam passes from the front to the back.

Lateral view

This X-ray is taken from the side to offer extra information and detail about the heart and the lungs.

How an X-ray Works

X-rays use small amounts of ionising radiation to create images of the inside of your chest. Dense structures, such as bones, will absorb more radiation and appear white in the image, while air-filled areas, such as the lungs, will appear darker.

Benefits

Chest X-rays have many benefits, including:

They are fast and simple - and the procedure takes just a few minutes.
They give immediate results, so are useful in emergencies.
Your radiation exposure is low compared with other imaging techniques like CT scans.
They are one of the most affordable imaging options if you are paying privately.

Risks & Side Effects

While chest X-rays only expose you to a low dose of radiation, repeated X-rays may slightly increase the risk of cancer. However the benefits of a timely and accurate diagnosis should outweigh any concerns you have about your radiation exposure. If you’re at all worried, ask your clinician, who will be able to reassure you.

Limitations

While chest X-rays are useful, they don’t always detect small abnormalities or diseases in the early stages. Your doctor may recommend a CT scan or more tests for a clearer diagnosis. Interpretation of your results can also be affected by the radiologist's experience and the quality of the imaging results.

Minimising Radiation Exposure

Your clinician and radiologist are bound to the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) in England. This means that they will:

minimise your exposure to excessive or incorrect levels of radiation during the X-ray
be able to justify each X-ray in that each one will have a clear medical reason and that the benefits outweigh any risks
keep the radiation dose as low as possible while still getting clear images.

These regulations apply across private healthcare settings and NHS settings, ensuring that all patients receive the same level of protection.

How to Prepare for a Chest X-ray

You don’t need to do anything special before an X-ray; you can eat and drink normally before the procedure. You may be asked to:

remove clothing and jewellery that could interfere with the image
wear a hospital gown
let the radiologist know if you are pregnant

The Procedure Explained: What to Expect

Remove Clothing and Jewellery

Metal jewellery and some clothing items such as underwired bras or zips may obstruct or alter the X-ray images. You might be asked to change into a medical gown.

Stand Against or Sit in Front of the X-Ray Machine

You’ll be asked to stand or sit in front of the X-ray machine.

Follow Instructions to Position Your Body

Your technician will help you to sit or stand in the correct position.

Take a Deep Breath and Hold It When Told

They may ask you to take a deep breath and hold it while the scan is taken. This minimises movement and helps them get a clearer image.

The Machine Emits a Brief X-Ray Beam Through Your Chest

The X-ray machine will release a quick burst of radiation.

The X-rays Pass Through Your Body and Create an Image on a Detector

A detector on the other side of your body is positioned to capture the image, almost like a photograph.

For a standard two-view chest X-ray, one image is taken from the front and another from the side angle. Sometimes, your radiologist may take extra views from other angles.

The entire process takes just a few minutes.

X-ray Equipment

The key equipment of a chest X-ray include:

X-ray tube: This generates an X-ray beam that passes through the chest.
Digital detector or film: This captures the X-ray image; many healthcare settings now use digital imaging, which gives faster results and better image quality.
Positioning equipment: This will include standing plates or portable machines for critical patients who can’t sit or stand up.
Protective equipment: You may see technicians using lead aprons and/or shields to minimise unnecessary exposure, especially if you’re pregnant.

What Happens After a Chest X-ray?

Unless you are injured, you can usually return to your daily activities straight after a chest X-ray.

Getting the Results

Reslts from an X-ray are usually available within a few hours to a day, depending on the facility you attend. Your radiologist will review your results and pass them on to your clinician, who will discuss the results with you at a one-to-one consultation. With Scan.com X-rays, this will be within a day or two after the X-ray.

Follow Ups

In some cases your clinician may recommend follow-up imaging or tests, based on what your chest X-ray shows. They may recommend a follow-up ultrasound or CT scan if your chest X-ray shows abnormalities.

X-rays and Pregnancy

While chest X-rays involve radiation exposure, experts consider them to be generally safe in pregnancy. However, your radiologist will take precautions to ensure you and your baby’s safety.

Costs

Generally, X-rays are among the most affordable imaging techniques. You can expect to pay between £70 and £165 for one, depending on where you live in the UK and which facility you choose to have your X-ray at.

Get a Chest X-ray

Booking a chest X-ray through a trusted medical imaging provider like Scan.com can help you take the first step towards relief from your symptoms. If you’re unsure whether you need a chest X-ray, our clinicians can guide you based on your specific symptoms and medical history in a one-to-one consultation with no obligation to book afterwards.

FAQs

What Will a Chest X-Ray Show for Shortness of Breath?

A chest X-ray can detect problems like a build-up of fluid in the lungs, a collapsed lung, or an enlarged heart. These abnormalities may be visible as cloudy areas, shifted organ positions, or an abnormally large heart shape - all of which can make breathing difficult.

Will the Doctor Ring Back with Chest X-Ray Results?

Your doctor will usually call you within a day or so to talk you through your results.

When Should You Get a Chest X-Ray for a Cough?

You should book a chest X-ray if you have a cough and:

it’s lasted for three weeks or more
you experience wheezing or shortness of breath
you’re coughing up yellowish-green phlegm
you have a weakened immune system

While a cough is often just a temporary annoyance caused by a cold or mild respiratory infection, it could also indicate something more serious like pneumonia, bronchitis, or even lung cancer in some cases, although this is rare.

You should seek urgent help from your GP or NHS 111 if:

your cough is very bad or rapidly getting worse
you feel very unwell
you’re coughing up blood
you have chest or shoulder pain
the sides of your neck are swollen and painful
you’re having difficulty breathing

Can a Chest X-Ray Show Heart Blockage?

Yes, a chest X-ray can sometimes show signs of heart problems or blocked arteries, although they are not routinely used for this. If your doctor suspects a blockage, they are more likely to recommend an echocardiogram or coronary angiography.

How Long Do Chest X-Ray Results Take?

In many cases, results are available within a few hours to a day, depending on the facility.

How Long Does a Chest X-Ray Take?

The whole process takes just a few minutes, and you can resume your normal activities immediately.

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