• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Imaging and Intervention

Radiologist recommendations often yield significant findings

byXiaofan PanandAaron Maxwell, MD
December 25, 2014
in Imaging and Intervention
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. Among patients with abnormal findings on outpatient chest x-ray who subsequently underwent chest computed tomography (CT) based on radiologist recommendations, a substantial percentage of abnormalities requiring treatment or further diagnostic work-up was detected.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)           

Study Rundown: Chest x-ray is the most common radiologic study performed in the United States. While valuable for initial assessment of a wide variety of patient complaints, chest x-rays lack specificity and frequently yield recommendations for additional imaging (RAIs). In an evolving health care system, radiologists have been under increased pressure to use diagnostics responsibly, and RAIs have been criticized as a form of self-referral without significant impact on patient care. To date, little work has been done to define the utility of RAIs on patient outcomes. In the present study, researchers retrospectively examined reports from all outpatient chest x-rays performed during a one-year period to identify recommendations for follow-up chest CT and determine how often those scans yielded clinically-valuable information. Results showed that, though RAIs were relatively uncommon, nearly half resulted in clinically relevant chest CT findings, including new cancer diagnoses. Images from older patients and patients with a history of smoking were more likely to receive RAIs. Limitations of this study included its performance at a single academic medical center with a majority of specialists referring cases, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, this study did not capture the results of follow-up imaging performed at outside institutions, which may have affected the rate of significant findings.

Click to read the study in Radiology

Relevant Reading: Routine chest radiography in a primary care setting

In-Depth [retrospective cohort]: This study evaluated hospital imaging records over a one-year period at a single institution. All chest radiographs performed during the study period were identified using standard billing codes. RAIs were identified using text analysis software, and the presence of any relevant follow-up chest CT was identified manually for each patient. Abnormalities detected by follow-up imaging were categorized as clinically relevant or not based on whether additional work-up or treatment was required. Of the 29 138 chest radiographs identified, 4.5% (CI95% 4.3-4.8%) contained findings that generated a recommendation for follow-up chest CT. The observed follow-up rate was high. Among patients that underwent chest CT, the rate of identification of clinically relevant abnormalities was 41.4% (CI95% 37.7-45.2%). Of these, 8.1% (CI95% 6.2-10.4%) represented a previously-unknown cancer, 73.2% of which were lung cancer. The most common lung malignancy was adenocarcinoma. Elderly patients and smokers were recommended for further imaging at a higher rate, while those who initially received chest x-rays for a clinical indication of fever received fewer recommendations.

More from this author: Targeted MRI may improve sensitivity for multiple sclerosis diagnosis,  Patients report persistent quality-of-life impairments following ruptured brain aneurysms, Shear-wave elastography may improve prostate cancer detection, 7 tesla breast MRI may improve assessment of suspicious masses, VEGFR-targeted ultrasound may improve detection of pancreatic cancer

RELATED REPORTS

CT associated with lower complication risks than invasive coronary angiography

Computed tomography a suitable diagnostic alternative for obstructive coronary artery disease

#VisualAbstract: Low-dose computed tomography improves the detection of secondary primary lung cancers compared to chest radiographs for head and neck cancer survivors

Image: PD

©2014 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors, editors, staff or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: Chest X-RayComputed Tomography (CT)
Previous Post

“No Evidence of Disease Activity” may be useful goal in multiple sclerosis

Next Post

The ZEUS study: everolimus maintains durable renal transplant function

RelatedReports

PCI not superior to medical therapy alone in stable coronary disease: The COURAGE study
Cardiology

CT associated with lower complication risks than invasive coronary angiography

May 13, 2022
Patient Basics: Atherosclerosis
Cardiology

Computed tomography a suitable diagnostic alternative for obstructive coronary artery disease

March 14, 2022
#VisualAbstract: Internal mammary node irradiation improves survival for patients with centromedially located node-positive breast cancer
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: Low-dose computed tomography improves the detection of secondary primary lung cancers compared to chest radiographs for head and neck cancer survivors

November 10, 2021
#VisualAbstract: 18-F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography offers a high negative predictive value for detection of cervical lymph node metastases
StudyGraphics

#VisualAbstract: 18-F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography offers a high negative predictive value for detection of cervical lymph node metastases

August 5, 2021
Next Post
The ZEUS study: everolimus maintains durable renal transplant function

The ZEUS study: everolimus maintains durable renal transplant function

Social integration may reduce suicide risk in male health professionals

Childhood adversity linked with increased adult psychiatric medication use

Pediatric reptile-associated salmonellosis a substantial burden

Pediatric reptile-associated salmonellosis a substantial burden

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Intraperitoneal chemotherapy improves advanced ovarian cancer survival [Classics Series]
  • Radiofrequency thermal ablation superior to percutaneous ethanol injection in hepatocellular carcinoma [Classics Series]
  • Lisocabtagene maraleucel improves survival for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.