What Does a Chest X Ray Show?

Chest x rays show the structures in and around the chest. The test is used to look for and track conditions of the heart, lungs, bones, and chest cavity. For example, chest x-ray pictures may show signs of pneumonia, heart failure, lung cancer, lung tissue scarring, or sarcoidosis.

Chest x rays do have limits. They only show conditions that change the size of a tissue or how radiation is absorbed. Also, chest x rays create two-dimensional pictures. This means that denser structures, like bone or the heart, may hide some signs of disease. Very small cancers and blood clots in the lungs usually don't show up on chest x rays.

For these reasons, other tests may be needed to confirm a diagnosis.