USEFULNESS OF THE CHEST ROENTGENOGRAM IN HOSPITALIZED-PATIENTS

Aim. To assess the utility of the chest roentgenogram (CR) in hospital ized patients in terms of its diagnostic and therapeutic influence on the clinician. Design. A survey in a group of residents of internal me dicine at a tertiary care teaching hospital was carried out. Two quest ionnaires were applied: one when a follow-up CR was ordered (inquiring about reasons for ordering the film, the likelihood that the CR would show changes and physician's therapeutic plan); the second questionna ire was applied after the CR was obtained (inquiring about how unexpec ted the CR finding was and its degree of influence on therapy). Both q uestionnaires were analyzed in regard to the CR interpretation by a ra diologist. Results. One hundred surveys were analyzed. CR ruled out th e suspicion of a new pulmonary event (55% of cases) or of the worsenin g of a known lung disease (50%) as predicted by the physician. In turn , CR confirmed the absence of a new pulmonary event (92%), or the impr ovement/stabilization of the course of a known lung disease (92%), as predicted by the physician. Sixty-one percent of these CR had a defini te influence on patients' treatment. Conclusion. CR in hospitalized pa tients is of practical benefit to physicians, mainly in avoiding overd iagnosis and unnecesary treatment to their patients.