← All services · X-ray, CT, MRI
Chest X-ray
chest X-ray · lung X-ray · CXR
A picture of your lungs and heart taken with X-rays. The radiation dose is small.
For cough, fever, shortness of breath, suspected pneumonia, or before surgery.
⏱ Duration: usually 5 to 10 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Preparation. No special prep needed. You can eat and drink.
- Metal. Take off chains, pendants, and chest piercings. Tie up long hair.
- Clothes. You will be asked to undress to the waist. Clothes without metal parts are easier.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Past X-rays, to compare
How it goes
- You undress to the waist and stand with your chest against the machine
- You put your hands on your hips and roll your shoulders forward
- When told, you breathe in and hold your breath for a few seconds
- Sometimes a second picture is taken from the side
What you'll feel
- Nothing. You do not feel the X-ray itself
- The plate may feel cool
Afterwards
- You can go back to your day straight away
- The report is usually ready the same day or the next day
Contact a doctor straight away if
- If it is very hard to breathe, your lips turn blue, or you have severe chest pain: do not wait for the X-ray. Call emergency services
Common questions
Is a chest X-ray harmful?
The dose is small, about the same as natural background radiation over a few days. If you need the X-ray, the benefit outweighs the risk.
How is a chest X-ray different from a screening chest scan?
A chest X-ray is clearer and is done when you have symptoms. A screening scan, called fluorography, is a quick check during a checkup.