What should I think about if I have a chest X-ray?

If you have a chest X-ray, you should think about the following:

• Your X-ray test results may be different from earlier test results because you were tested at a different medical center or you had a different kind of test.
• If a chest X-ray is not normal, more specific X-rays or other tests such as a CT scan, ultrasound, MRI scan, or a biopsy may be done.
• Some conditions may not show up on a chest X-ray, such as a small cancer, a pulmonary embolus, or other problem that is hidden by the normal structures in the chest.
• Certain workers, such as people who work with asbestos, may need regular chest X-rays to check for problems caused by asbestos.