Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause cough, fever, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
When to get help quickly: Urgent review is important if breathing is difficult, chest pain is significant, confusion develops, coughing up blood occurs, or the person is frail or getting worse quickly.
Common symptoms
Common symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, tiredness, aching, and sometimes confusion, especially in older adults.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps when pneumonia is suspected, when symptoms are severe, when the diagnosis is uncertain, or when doctors need to look for complications or poor response to treatment.
What radiology does
Chest X-ray is often the first imaging test, while CT may be used in more complex or unclear situations.
What usually happens next
Treatment depends on severity and usually includes antibiotics when bacterial infection is likely, plus supportive care.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.
Related scan guides
- Chest X-RayA chest X-ray is a quick scan that uses a small amount of radiation to take pictures of your lungs, heart, ribs, and chest bones. Doctors commonly request it for cough, chest pain, breathing difficulty, infections, and chest injuries.
- CT ChestA CT Chest scan is an imaging test that uses X-rays and computer processing to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the lungs, heart, airways, blood vessels, and chest wall.
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan – General FAQsEverything patients commonly ask about CT scans — what to expect, how long it takes, and whether it's safe.