Short answer: An X-ray passes a small dose of radiation through the body to make an image: dense tissues such as bone look white, air looks black, and soft tissues are shades of grey. A radiologist describes the image in a short report. The most common X-rays are of the chest and of bones and joints.
At a glance
| What it is | An image made with a small dose of radiation |
|---|---|
| Shades | Bone white, air black, soft tissue grey |
| Common words | Opacity, lucency, consolidation, effusion, fracture, degenerative changes |
| Views | The angles taken, for example PA and lateral for the chest |
| Keeping it | Report, date and images if you receive them |
| What this page does not do | Interpret your report |
How it is done
You stand or lie still for a few seconds, sometimes in two positions ("views"). For a chest X-ray, you take a deep breath and hold it. It is quick and the radiation dose is low; tell the staff if you might be pregnant.
What the report contains
| On the report | Unit | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| PA / AP / lateral | — | the direction of the beam: back-to-front, front-to-back, from the side |
| Opacity | — | an area that looks whiter (denser) than expected |
| Lucency | — | an area that looks darker (less dense) than expected |
| Consolidation (chest) | — | lung tissue filled with fluid or other material instead of air |
| Effusion | — | fluid collected, for example around the lung |
| No acute findings | — | nothing urgent seen on this image |
Comparing with an earlier X-ray helps the radiologist tell old from new findings, which is why keeping earlier images and reports matters.
Keeping the report in your record
In Anpheros Daily you photograph the report or upload the PDF, and it goes into Documents under the person it belongs to, linked to the appointment it came from, next to the referral and the doctor's letter. On the Plus and Max plans "Read with AI" gives a plain-language summary and explains the terms, with the sentence each explanation came from marked; it stays labelled as AI, separate from what the specialist wrote. In the record the report is stored as an HL7 FHIR document, so you can share it with any doctor for a period you choose. Our guide on sharing your record with a clinic explains how.
What this page does not do
It explains what the investigation is and how its report is usually organised. It does not interpret your report or images, diagnose or recommend treatment. Reading the recording or images is the specialist's job; deciding what the report means for you is your doctor's.
Related pages
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What does opacity mean on an X-ray?
An area that looks whiter or denser than expected. It describes appearance; its meaning depends on where it is and on your symptoms.
What does "no acute findings" mean?
That the radiologist saw nothing urgent on the image. It does not cover what an X-ray cannot show.
How much radiation is an X-ray?
Usually a low dose; a chest X-ray is among the lowest. The benefit is weighed against it.
What is a lateral view?
An image taken from the side, which shows structures hidden on the front view.
Try it in Anpheros Daily
Keep your scan and test reports in one place in Anpheros Daily, ready to show at your next visit.
How it works in the app →
Anpheros builds a medical record that the patient controls and can share with any clinic, on an HL7 FHIR R4 platform, based in the EU. These guides help you understand and organise your health; they do not replace your doctor.
About Anpheros →
AnpherosThe more you log, the clearer your record
Your health history in one place, under your control.
Free · Works in your browser · No card
