X Ray Neck AP and Lateral View

AP (anteroposterior) view is an X‑ray taken front‑to‑back, with the beam entering the anterior chest and exiting posteriorly; it’s often used when patients cannot stand. Lateral view is a side‑to‑side radiograph, providing a perpendicular image that reveals depth, posterior structures and overlapping tissues. Together they localize fractures, assess alignment, joint spaces and evaluate lungs or other chest/soft‑tissue pathology.

A cervical AP and lateral X-ray obtains front-to-back (AP) and side (lateral) views of the neck’s cervical spine. It assesses vertebral alignment, fractures, degenerative changes, joint spaces, and prevertebral soft tissues. Often used first after neck trauma or persistent pain, it helps decide if further CT or MRI is needed. Radiation is low; pregnancy and motion may limit usefulness.

The patient stands or sits upright in a true lateral position with the midsagittal plane parallel to the image receptor. Shoulders relaxed and lowered, arms at the sides; chin slightly elevated so the head is neutral to mildly extended. Center the beam at the upper cervical region (around C3–C5) to include skull base through the thoracic inlet. Keep head still and avoid rotation.

A lateral neck X‑ray can detect airway narrowing or obstruction, swallowed or inhaled foreign bodies, soft‑tissue swelling from infections (epiglottitis, retropharyngeal abscess), prevertebral swelling, cervical spine alignment or fractures, tracheal deviation, subcutaneous emphysema, and calcifications or masses in the pharyngeal/laryngeal area. It can also evaluate adenoids or chronic bony changes.

AP and lateral are two radiographic views. AP (anteroposterior) is a front‑to‑back projection; lateral is a side projection. Together they provide orthogonal perspectives that improve detection and localization of abnormalities, assess size and shape of structures, and reduce overlap that can obscure pathology. They’re commonly obtained for chest, spine, and extremity radiographs.

A lateral view is an imaging projection taken from the side of the body, producing a profile image perpendicular to frontal (AP/PA) views. It shows depth and spatial relationships of structures—useful for chest, spine, skull and joint X‑rays—to detect displacement, layering of fluids, or lesions not visible on frontal films. Proper positioning reduces overlap for clearer assessment.