How do you study a chest X ray?

1. Gather patient information

- Age, sex, history of present illness, past medical history, and medications.

- For trauma patients, review the mechanism of injury.

2. Check for technical adequacy

- Ensure the X-ray is properly exposed and centered.

- The entire lung fields should be visible, from the apices to the bases.

- The heart and mediastinum should be well-visualized.

- There should be no motion artifact.

3. Evaluate the heart and mediastinum

- Check the size and shape of the heart.

- Look for any masses or calcifications in the heart or mediastinum.

- Evaluate the position of the trachea and main bronchi.

4. Examine the lungs

- Look for any areas of consolidation, atelectasis, or emphysema.

- Check for any nodules, masses, or cavities.

- Evaluate the vascularity of the lungs.

5. Assess the pleural space

- Check for any pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or hemothorax.

- Look for any thickening of the pleura.

6. Interpret the findings

- Correlate the findings with the patient's history and physical examination.

- Consider the possibility of differential diagnosis.

- Order additional tests if necessary.