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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">parents</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>X-Ray Exam: Chest</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/parents/xray-exam-chest.html"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">Radiografía: Tórax (Pecho)</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h3>What's an X-Ray?</h3><p><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/xrays.html">An X-ray</a> is a safe and painless test that uses a small amount of radiation to make an image of bones, organs, and other parts of the body.</p><p>The X-ray image is black and white. Dense body parts, such as bones, block the passage of the X-ray beam through the body. These look white on the X-ray image. Softer body tissues, such as the skin and muscles, allow the X-ray beams to pass through them. They look darker on the image.</p><p>X-rays are commonly done in doctors’ offices, radiology departments, imaging centers, and dentists’ offices.</p><h3>What's a Chest X-Ray?</h3><p>In a chest X-ray, an <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/get-xray.html">X-ray machine</a> sends a beam of radiation through the chest, and an image is recorded on special film or a computer. This image includes organs and structures such as the heart, lungs, large blood vessels, diaphragm, part of the airway, the upper spine, ribs, collarbone, and breastbone.</p><p>Usually, the X-ray technician will take pictures of the chest:</p><ul><li>from the back of the chest (if the child is old enough to stand up for the X-ray)</li><li>from the side</li></ul><p>For younger children, the technician will take pictures from the front of the chest and the side. Sometimes, other picture views also are taken.</p><p>Chest X-rays can be done while a child is standing, sitting, or lying down. They should stay still for 2–3 seconds while each X-ray is taken so the images are clear. If an image is blurred, the X-ray technician might take another one.</p></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p class="center_this"><img src="/content/dam/patientinstructions/en/images/xray-400x425-rd1-enIL.gif" alt="" /></p></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h3>Why Are Chest X-Rays Done?</h3><p>A chest X-ray can help doctors find the cause of a cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain. It can detect signs of <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/pneumonia.html">pneumonia</a>, a collapsed lung, heart problems (such as an enlarged heart), and broken ribs or lung damage after an injury.</p><p>Chest X-rays can show a swallowed foreign object (such as a coin). They can also help confirm that medical tubes are in the right locations in organs such as the stomach.</p><h3>What if I Have Questions?</h3><p>If you have questions about the chest X-ray or what the results mean, talk to your doctor.</p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: March 2022</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="wascurrent" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="false" tabindex="-1"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> <li role="presentation" class="wascurrent" id="PKTtabKids"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="kids_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListKids" aria-selected="false" tabindex="-1"><span>for Kids</span></button></li> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabParents"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="parents_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListParents" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Parents</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListParents" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="parents_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/az-symptoms-chest-pain.html">A to Z Symptom: Chest Pain</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/costochondritis.html">Costochondritis</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/cat-scan-chest.html">CT (CAT) Scan: Chest</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/pneumonia.html">Pneumonia</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/center/heart-health-center.html">Heart Health (Topic Center)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/xrays.html">X-Ray Exams</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/get-xray.html">Getting an X-Ray</a></li> </ul> <ul id="relatedArticlesListKids" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="kids_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/video-xray.html">Getting an X-ray (Video)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/kids/med-videos-landing.html">Medical Tests and Procedures (Video Landing Page)</a></li> </ul> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/video-xray.html">X-Ray (Video)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/med-videos-landing.html">Medical Tests: What to Expect (Video)</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/pneumonia.html">Pneumonia</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/xray-exam-chest.html?view=ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/xray-exam-chest.html?view=emailto" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(7,2,3,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A KidsHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/eduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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