When testing for respiratory disorders, doctors usually order a chest X-ray to observe the lungs. The images returned from these tests tell the doctor if there is an obstruction, an infection such as pneumonia, or evidence of emphysema from smoking. Reading a chest X-ray involves a clinical background, but some simple observations can be made by patients.
Instructions
1. Hang the images next to each other in front of a bright light. All chest X-ray images have a PA (posterior-anterior) copy and a lateral (sides) copy. By hanging them next to each other you can better see differences between the two images, indicating the position of abnormalities.
2. Compare rib extension with lateral views. When viewing the image of the sides, the ribs should be evenly extended outward. If one set of ribs is extended farther than another, it may be a sign of pleurisy (swelling in the outer membrane of the lungs).
3. Check the size of the lungs. Both lungs are generally the same size. Look for abnormally large swelling in either lung, which indicates infection or inflammation.
4. Detect bone fractures. Chest X-rays are also used to view fractures in the shoulders, ribs, and collarbones. Fractures are visible dark areas on the white bone part of the images.
5. Observe any abnormal growths. In cases of infection like pneumonia, abnormal opaque structures are present in the lungs. These obstructions look like a large mass of circular structures suspended in the lungs.
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