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A member asked:
Is an x-ray absolutely necessary after every thoracentesis? are there any negative cumulative side effects from the x-ray?
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Yes: need to make sure there is not a pneumothorax or a collapsed lung. The amount of radiation is not concerning.
Answered 5/21/2015
2.8k views
Yes: A chest xray is needed after a thoracentesis to make sure a pneumonthorax has not developed. A pneumothorax is a very serious complication of a thoracentesis. Chest X-rays do pose a small risk of developing lung cancer. You can read more about that small risk here http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/?pg=sfty_xray
Answered 5/22/2015
2.8k views
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