Can lung cancer be checked by chest X-ray?

Can lung cancer be detected by chest X-ray?

1. The full name of chest radiography in medicine is chest X-ray. Whether lung cancer can be detected by chest radiography depends on the pathological stage of lung cancer. If lung cancer is in the carcinoma in situ stage, it cannot be detected by chest X-ray. If lung cancer has entered the infiltration and metastasis stage, it can be detected by chest X-ray, but it cannot be directly diagnosed.

2. Chest X-ray is a common imaging examination, which has the advantages of clear images and simple and convenient operation. However, the resolution of chest X-ray is relatively low, and compared with imaging examinations such as CT and MRI, it cannot detect mild lesions. If lung cancer is only in the carcinoma in situ stage, the diameter is less than 1 cm, or the cancerous tissue grows behind the heart, chest X-ray is likely to miss the diagnosis.

3. If lung cancer has developed to the stage of local infiltration, extensive infiltration or metastasis, or if lung cancer is combined with typical pathological manifestations such as emphysema and pulmonary tension, it can be detected through chest X-ray examination. However, chest X-ray cannot directly diagnose lung cancer, but it can detect suspicious lesions. When cancer is highly suspected, a biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis.

4. Chest X-ray is not the golden examination item for lung cancer. Low-dose spiral CT is the main clinical method for screening lung cancer. Ordinary CT and bronchoscopy can also be used for lung cancer screening. Different stages of lung cancer require different examination items. You should follow the doctor's advice. If you are diagnosed with lung cancer after the examination, you should actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment and take good care of your diet and life.