Frontal & Lateral Chest X-RAY | 3D Representation

The lateral CXR is less frequently requested
BUT it contains & information on the thoracic cage, pleura, lungs, pericardium, heart, mediastinum & upper abdomen.

Couple rules of thumb:
- Lateral CXR is performed with the side of interest closer to the X-ray film
The 4 indications are:
- (1) to localize a lesion seen on frontal CXR
- (2) to clarify lobar collapse/consolidation
- (3) to explore a retrosternal or retrocardiac shadow
- (4) to confirm the presence of encysted fluid in the oblique fissure (pseudotumour)