Cost of Chest X Ray in India
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What is Chest X-Ray?
The most common diagnostic x-ray examination is a chest x-ray. Pictures of the heart, lungs, airways, blood vessels, and spine and chest bones are produced by a chest x-ray. An x-ray examination aids doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. It uses a small amount of ionising radiation to create images of the inside of your body. X-rays are the most common and oldest type of medical imaging.
Why is the Chest X-Ray done?
The purpose of a chest x-ray is to examine the lungs, heart, and chest wall.
Typically, a chest x-ray is the first imaging test used to help diagnose symptoms like:
- Difficulties in breathing
- A bad or persistent cough, chest pain, or fever caused by an injury.
A chest X-ray is usually ordered if you visit your doctor or go to the emergency room with chest pain, a chest injury, or shortness of breath. The image aids your doctor in determining whether you have heart disease, collapsed lung, pneumonia, broken ribs, emphysema, cancer, or any of several other ailments.
Who should undergo Chest X-ray done?
Physicians use the exam to help diagnose or track the progress of treatment for conditions like:
- Pneumonia
- Heart failure
- Other cardiovascular issues
- Other medical conditions
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Positioning of medical devices fluid or air collection around the lungs emphysema
Disclaimer: It is advised to always consult your doctor to interpret the test reports.
What precautions should I take?
- Please follow the instructions suggested by your doctor
- Inform if one is on any medications or if any treatment is going on
- Show your old reports, if any
- Inform if one is pregnant / breast-feeding / menstruating.
What does the Chest X-ray measure?
It can detect abnormalities or diseases of the airways, blood vessels, bones, heart, and lungs when focused on the chest. Chest X-rays can also reveal whether you have fluid in your lungs or if there is fluid or air surrounding your lungs.
Your doctor may order a chest X-ray for various reasons, including assessing injuries from an accident or monitoring the progression of a disease such as cystic fibrosis. If you go to the emergency room with chest pain or if you’ve been in an accident that involved force to your chest area, you may also require a chest X-ray.
A chest X-ray is a simple, quick, and effective test that has been used for decades to assist doctors in viewing some conditions.
What are the tests included in the Chest X-Ray?
A blood test may be required before your planned Chest X-ray scan.
Chest X-Ray Preparation
X-rays of the chest require little to no preparation. Wear loose, comfortable clothing with no metal (zippers, snaps, bra closures) and leave your jewellery at home when getting ready for the appointment.
Ask your X-ray centre for specific instructions if you have body piercings. Body jewellery can make it difficult to see clearly. You may have to remove it or replace it with an acrylic retainer.
Chest X-Ray Procedure
As the patient stands against the image recording plate, two chest views are typically taken, one from the back and the other from the side. The patient will be positioned with hands-on hips and chest pressed against the image plate by the technologist, specially trained to perform radiology examinations. The patient’s side is against the image plate in the second view, and his arms are raised.
For chest x-rays, patients who cannot stand may be positioned lying down on a table.
While the technologist takes the x-ray, you must remain completely still and may need to hold your breath for a few seconds. This reduces the likelihood of a blurred image. To activate the x-ray machine, the technologist will walk behind a wall or into the next room.
When the exam is finished, the technologist may ask you to wait until the radiologist confirms that they have all the necessary images. The entire chest x-ray examination, from positioning to obtaining and verifying images, takes about 15 minutes.
To evaluate any changes in the chest, additional views may be required within hours, days, or months.
What to expect after Chest X-ray is done?
A chest x-ray examination is a painless procedure in and of itself.
The cool temperature of the examination room and the coldness of the recording plate may cause discomfort. Individuals suffering from arthritis or injuries to the chest wall, shoulders, or arms may experience discomfort while attempting to remain still during the examination. The technologist will work with you to find the most comfortable position while still ensuring diagnostic image quality.
When will I get the Chest X-ray report?
Your test will be reviewed by a radiologist (imaging specialist), and the results will be provided to your doctor within 48 hours. Your doctor will go through the results with you and explain what they indicate about your health.
Disclaimer: The time may vary based on your condition and the availability of the radiologist.
How will I get the report of the Chest X-ray?
The pictures will be analysed by a radiologist, a doctor who is uniquely educated to monitor and interpret radiology tests. The radiologist will provide the doctor who ordered the exam with an official report.
You may require a follow-up examination. If this is the case, your doctor will explain why. A follow-up test may be necessary to further analyse a suspected problem with more views or particular imaging technology. It may also check to determine whether a problem has changed over time. Follow-up assessments are frequently the most effective approach to determine if therapy is effective or whether an issue requires attention.
How to interpret the result of the Chest X-ray?
The images will be analysed by a radiologist, a doctor who is trained to supervise and interpret radiology examinations. The radiologist will send a signed report to your primary care physician or referring physician, who will go over the findings with you.
The results of a chest x-ray can be reviewed by your doctor almost immediately.
You may require a follow-up examination. If this is the case, your doctor will explain why. A follow-up exam may be necessary to further evaluate a potential problem with additional views or a special imaging technique. It may also check to see if an issue has changed over time. Follow-up exams are frequently the most effective way to determine whether treatment is effective or whether a problem requires attention.
Is there any risk involved?
You may be concerned about your exposure to radiation from chest X-rays, especially if you have them regularly. However, the amount of radiation emitted by a chest X-ray is low — even lower than the amount of radiation emitted by natural radiation sources in the environment.
Even if the benefits of an X-ray outweigh the risks, you may be given a protective apron if multiple images are required. Inform your doctor if you are or suspect you are pregnant. The procedure can be done so that your abdomen is not exposed to radiation.
What equipment or instruments are used for Chest X-Ray?
A wall-mounted, box-like apparatus containing the x-ray film, or a special plate that records the image digitally, is typically used for chest x-rays. Approximately six feet away is an x-ray producing tube.
The equipment can also be configured so that the x-ray tube is suspended above a table on which the patient is lying. The x-ray film or digital recording plate is kept in a drawer beneath the table.
Portable x-ray machines are small enough to carry patients in a hospital bed or the emergency room. A flexible arm is attached to the x-ray tube. The technologist extends their arm over the patient and positions an x-ray film holder or image recording plate beneath the patient.
How long does Chest X-ray take?
During your exam, the technician will always be able to see and hear you. This treatment typically takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
How do I book a Chest X-ray through the MFine app?
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Frequently asked questions on Chest X-Ray
What are the benefits of chest x-rays?
A chest X-ray is a type of imaging test that uses X-rays to examine the structures and organs of your chest. It can assist your doctor in determining how well your lungs and heart are working. Specific heart problems can cause changes in your lungs. Certain diseases can cause structural changes in the heart or lungs.
Are x-rays of the chest safe?
Chest X-rays are generally very safe. Although any radiation exposure poses some risk to the body, the amount used in a chest X-ray is small and not considered dangerous. It’s critical to understand that radiologists use the least amount of radiation possible to achieve the best results.
Is Covid detectable on a chest X-ray?
For the diagnosis of COVID-19, a chest X-ray is moderately sensitive and specific.
What is a typical chest X-ray?
A routine chest X-ray shows the chest wall’s normal size and shape and the main structures in the chest. As previously stated, white shadows on a chest X-ray indicate solid structures and fluids such as rib cage bone, vertebrae, heart, aorta, and shoulder bones.
How many chest X-rays are safe to have each year?
While there is no magic number for how many X-rays are safe in a year, the American College of Radiology recommends limiting lifetime diagnostic radiation exposure to 100 mSv, which is roughly 10,000 chest X-rays but only 25 chest CT scans.
When should I expect to receive the results of my chest X-ray?
In non-emergency situations, you should have your X-ray results within one to two days. In an emergency, you will usually know the outcome in a matter of minutes or hours.
When should I contact my physician?
If you have any of the following symptoms, contact your healthcare provider:
- Injury to the chest, such as a suspected broken rib.
- Pain in the chest that does not go away.
- Coughing that is persistent.
- Breathing is difficult.
Is it possible for radiation to remain in your body indefinitely?
The radiation can stay in the body for a few minutes to a few days. The majority of people only receive radiation therapy for a few minutes. Internal radiation therapy is sometimes given to patients for an extended period. If this is the case, they will remain in a private room to limit other people’s exposure to the radiation.
What can a chest x-ray reveal?
X-rays of the chest can detect cancer, infection, or air collecting in the space around a lung, which can cause the lung to collapse. They can also show chronic lung conditions like emphysema or cystic fibrosis and complications from these conditions. Lung problems caused by a heart condition.
What should I avoid after radiation?
Foods to avoid or reduce during radiation therapy include sodium (salt), added sugars, solid (saturated) fats, and an excess of alcohol. Some salt is needed in all diets. Based on your medical history, your doctor or dietitian can recommend how much salt you should consume.
Disclaimer: The content is uniquely informative and is meant for educational use. Kindly use the content only in consultation with an appropriate certified or registered healthcare provider.