Virtual Children's Hospital Logo Virtual Children's Hospital Home Virtual Hospital Home Site Map Mirrors Search Health Topics A-Z for Providers Textbooks for Providers Health Topics A-Z for Patients Textbooks for Patients About Us Continuing Education Translations Links Support Us Children's Hospital of Iowa

Chest X-ray or Abdomen X-ray

University of Iowa Department of Radiology, Section of Pediatric Radiology

Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
Creation Date: Unknown
Last Revision Date: Unknown


A chest X-ray is taken to study the lungs and heart. The best radiograph is obtained when the child's lungs are filled with air. The child is seated or stands against the film holder and is positioned so that all of the lung fields are included. Two views are usually obtained; one from the front and one from the side. Infants and small toddlers are x-rayed while lying down on the film holder.

Occasionally we must gently restrain the child using sandbags. This doesn't hurt the child, but usually makes him angry and he will often cry in protest. This is an advantage for the Technologist who can then obtain the X-ray when the child fills his lungs with air. After the X-rays the child is then returned to the parents in the waiting room.

Sometimes the physician orders a Cardiac Series. This necessitates giving the child some spoonfuls of barium to be swallowed during the chest X-ray.

The parents are asked to wait until the films are processed and checked for quality before leaving the Radiology Department. Occasionally a film must be repeated because of motion or because the Radiologist requests an additional view to clarify the diagnosis.

An abdomen X-ray is similar to the chest X-ray except the part of the body being radiographed is different. The child is usually lying down on the table or turned on his side. Sometimes we obtain a view of the abdomen while standing up.

Any questions you may have concerning your child's X-ray are welcome.


See related Patient Textbooks about Radiology.

See related Patient Topics Diagnostic Imaging, Procedures and Therapies or Radiology.

See related Provider Textbooks about Radiology.

See related Provider Topics Diagnostic Imaging, Procedures and Therapies or Radiology.


Virtual Children's Hospital Home | Virtual Hospital Home | Site Map | Mirror Sites | Search

Provider Health Topics A-Z | Provider Textbooks | Patient Health Topics A-Z | Patient Textbooks

About Us | Continuing Education | Translations | Links | Support Us

Policies | Comments and Questions | E-mail This Page | UI Health Care Home


All contents copyright © 1992-2004 the Author(s) and The University of Iowa. All rights reserved.

http://www.vh.org/pediatric/patient/radiology/chestabdomenxray/index.html