Abnormal Chest X-Ray: What are the Possible Causes?

Abnormal Chest X-Ray: What are the Possible Causes?

A chest X-ray is an imaging test that uses low doses of radiation in short blasts in order to create images of the inside of the patient’s chest. This makes it possible for doctors to examine the lungs, bones, heart, and the blood vessels.

If the X-ray shows abnormalities, this means that there is something unusual that is reflected on the image of the chest. This is often an indicative of a problem and the causes can be immediately obvious such as a fractured or broken rib. At times, it can also be just a shadow that just needs to be investigated further.

An abnormal chest X-ray can mean a lot of things. It can be one problem, several problems, or at times, it’s really nothing to worry about. For instance, an abnormal chest X-ray can mean fluid in the lungs, air pockets, pneumonia, and an enlarged heart, among many other things. Pulmonary physicians can read the scans and identify the particularities of any abnormality.

What is a Chest Scan?

There are two common forms of chest scans: chest CTs and chest X-rays. Of the two, the X-ray is the more basic while the CT scan is more detailed. These tests are used to monitor and diagnose conditions such as heart failure, lung cancer, sarcoidosis, pneumonia, and lung tissue scarring.

Chest CT scans or Computed Tomography scans are considered painless tests.

However, they provide more detailed images. They also often make cross-sectional images of the lungs (these are called slices). They also use computer technology to create 3D models of the lungs.

These tests are also usually follow-up tests to abnormal chest X-rays. They are also oftentimes done to diagnose some lung conditions. For instance, they are used to diagnose certain lung issues such as excess fluid around the lungs (also known as pleural effusion), pulmonary embolism, emphysema, lung tumor, pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Abnormal Scans If patients are experiencing certain symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chronic mucus production, the physician may order a chest X-ray. They might also order a CT or even PET scan to further diagnose what shows up on the chest X-ray result.

Certain conditions like pneumonia, lung cancer, sarcoidosis, heart failure, embolisms, emphysema, pleural effusions, and lung scarring would all show up on chest scans.

Pulmonary Nodules Pulmonary nodules are the small spots on the lungs that can show up on X-ray or CT scans. Pulmonary nodules are often causes of serious concerns for patients even though in some cases they don’t have to be.

Pulmonary nodules are often less than 3cm in diameter and can stay in the lungs for many years without the patient knowing. They do not always cause symptoms.

Nodules can show up as white spots on imaging scans. It is likely that your physician will take a biopsy of the nodule to determine if it is cancerous or malignant.

Less than 5 percent of pulmonary nodules eventually cause cancer. However, it is best to have it checked to play safe. Other causes of lung nodules include neoplasms, sarcoidosis, and infection.

A pulmonary expert can accurately identify and are equipped to diagnose as well as treat various conditions such as bronchitis, lung cancer, acute and respiratory failure,

pulmonary hypertension, lung infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. They can also help identify what are the possible causes of the abnormal chest X-ray scan and help you decide the best action to take. Highly specialized physicians can also analyze a chest scan as well as the most effective way to proceed and treat said abnormalities.