Chest X-Ray at Children's Hospital Colorado

A child receives a chest x-ray to
show doctors a picture of his heart,
lungs and chest.

A chest x-ray is a non-invasive procedure that provides a picture of the heart, lungs and bones of the chest. It shows the location, size and shape of the heart, lungs and blood vessels; it can also show a doctor if there is fluid in the lungs. A chest x-ray can be useful in the diagnosis of pneumonia, tumors, collapsed lung, congestive heart failure and rib fractures. It does not, however, show any of the inside structures of the heart.

What to expect from a chest x-ray

Having an x-ray taken is quick and painless. If your child is an outpatient, the x-ray is done in the Radiology department. If your child is staying at Children’s Hospital Colorado, portable x-ray machines are sometimes brought to your child so that he does not have to be moved.

Read about other common heart tests.