General

Core DX Study

Synonym/Acronym:
chest radiography, CXR, lung radiography.

Rationale
To assist in the evaluation of cardiac, respiratory, and skeletal structure within the lung cavity and diagnose multiple diseases such as pneumonia and heart failure.

This Core Diagnostic Study is one of the most commonly requested diagnostic tests and is used in a variety of clinical settings; it is a popular diagnostic study in emergency care because it is noninvasive, portable, and imaging results are quickly available.

Patient Preparation
There are no food, fluid, activity, or medication restrictions unless by medical direction.

Normal Findings

• Normal lung fields, cardiac size and shape, mediastinal structures, thoracic spine, ribs, and diaphragm.

Critical Findings and Potential Interventions

• Foreign body
• Malposition of tube, line, or postoperative device (pacemaker)
• Pneumonia
• Pneumoperitoneum
• Pneumothorax
• Spine fracture
• TB

Timely notification to the requesting health-care provider (HCP) of any critical findings and related symptoms is a role expectation of the professional nurse. A listing of these findings varies among facilities.

Specific infectious organisms are required to be reported to local, state, and national departments of health. Lists of specific organisms may vary among facilities. State health departments provide information regarding reportable diseases, which can be accessed at each state health department website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information regarding national notifiable diseases at https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/search-results-year/.