Summary Chest X-ray Interpretation

A detailed approach of chest
x-ray, how to differentiate
the normal tissues, findings
the abnormalities and the
signs you could see.
Dr. Mustafa Alnatsheh
radiology

CHEST X-RAY
INTERPRETATION
How to Read a CXR

,You will find:
How to Read a CXR
The Normal CXR: Soft Tissues
The Normal CXR: Bones
The Normal CXR: Pleura and Pleural Cavity
The Normal CXR: Diaphragm
The Normal CXR: heart
Cardiac and mediastinal contours
Mediastinal Lines, Stripes and Interfaces
Airways: Trachea, Carina, Bronchi
Hila and hilar enlargement
The Normal CXR: Lung’s zones, lobes and segments
Hidden areas

, Chest x-ray interpretation

How to Read a CXR

# The amount of X-ray absorption by tissues (Attenuation) depends on their atomic number (Z).
# The absorbed amount defines the density of tissues on an X-ray images, the denser the tissue, the
more X-rays are attenuated.

- Because calcium has a high atomic number it absorbs X-ray most; so Bone appears “whitish”

- Air appears as “black” areas.

- Soft tissues, water and fat appear in different shades of grey.

- As metals have even higher Z, they appear as” white” areas on conventional X-rays.




1st: Confirm details

• Begin chest X-ray interpretation by checking
the following details:

- Patient details: name, date of birth and
unique identification number.
- Date and time the film was taken.
- Previous imaging: useful for comparison.