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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffYou may be concerned about radiation exposure from chest X-rays, especially if you have them regularly. However, the amount of radiation from a chest X-ray is low — even lower than what you're exposed to through natural sources of radiation in the environment.
The X-ray technologists and radiologists use the smallest possible dose of radiation and provide a protective lead apron when multiple X-rays are necessary.
Women should always inform their physician or X-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Although you should generally avoid X-rays during pregnancy, a lead apron that covers your pelvis and abdomen can minimize radiation exposure to the baby.
- Mettler FA. Chest. In: Mettler FA. Essentials of Radiology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B0-7216-0527-3..50006-8&isbn=0-7216-0527-3&uniqId=239558037-3. Accessed April 14, 2011.
- Chest X-ray (chest radiography). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=chestrad. Accessed April 19, 2011.
- Chiles C, et al. Radiology of the chest. In: Chen MY, et al. Basic Radiology. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6668687. Accessed April 14, 2011.
- Radiation exposure in X-ray and CT examinations. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/index.cfm?pg=sfty_xray. Accessed April 19, 2011.
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