The primary symptoms of chest disease include cough, with or without sputum, shortness of breath, wheezing, and pain. The initial evaluation begins in your doctor’s office, with evaluations of the appearance of the chest while you inhale and exhale; a technique called percussion, like "tapping" over the chest wall front and back; and listening to the sounds of breathing with a stethoscope, called auscultation.

X-ray examinations are also included in the initial evaluation of problems associated with the lungs and may be helpful in establishing a diagnosis or in directing further diagnostic studies. These may include pulmonary function tests, bronchoscopy, arterial blood gases, and additional techniques as needed, such as thoracentesis or biopsy.