“Can lung cancer be seen on an x-ray?”

Yes except area behind the heart

yes

It can be seen on a plain X ray of the chest if it is large enough. However, a low dose lung cancer screening chest CT is a much more sensitive test and can detect lung cancer at an early stage.

Many kinds of X-rays can see lung cancers measuring several millimeters or larger, but often cannot pick out a lung cancer from other similarly dense materials until they are somewhat larger.

Roger Macklis

Lung cancer can be detected on an x-ray.However, additional imaging studies such as a CT scan and/or a PET scan are necessary for further elucidation.These more advanced imaging modalities/techniques will not only characterize the mass, but will also delineate its contours/borders, confirm its size, determine its metabolic activity (as in the case of a PET scan), identify associated lesions such as local lymph node metastasis, highlight invasion of adjacent (nearby) structures, and detect impending or existing obstruction of the airways.However, it is important to understand that not all lung lesions represent cancer. Thus, a biopsy must be performed in order to establish the definitive diagnosis of cancer.I hope this explanation is clear and informative. Regards,Dr. EB

Yes.

Lung cancer can be seen on an x-ray as a nodule or enlarged lymph nodes. However, CT is much more sensitive.