It is the FIRST common diagnostic step when any new symptoms of lung cancer are present. The chest X-ray procedure often involves the view of the back to the front of the chest as well as a view from the side. Like any X-ray procedure, chest X-rays expose the patient briefly to a small amount of radiation. Chest X-ray may reveal some suspicious areas in the lungs but are unable to determine if these areas are cancerous. In particular, calcified nodules in the lungs or benign tumors called hamartomas may be identified on a chest X-ray and mimic lung cancer.
The smallest tumour that can be seen on a chest X-ray is about 1/2-inch in diameter. But even if a tumour is not seen, the chest X-ray may offer other clues to the diagnosis, such as pneumonia in the lung. Other possible clues are enlarged lymph nodes (which may be filled with cancer cells) and pleural effusion, an accumulation of fluid in the space between the lung and the chest wall. Lung cancer is not always the cause of these, but they are signs that alert the doctor to look for the cause, using other diagnostic tools.
The doctor may want the patient to have a chest X-ray even if the diagnosis is already clear. The purpose is to compare it with previous and later X-rays, to follow the progress and watch for possible changes in the lung tissue. It is important for the doctor to find out whether the cancer is growing or responding to treatment and shrinking.
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