Standards for Chest Radiography This standards were prepared by the Chest Expert Advisory Panel of the Canadian Association of Radiologists. i. INTRODUCTION Chest radiography with the use of screen film systems is the most frequently performed radiological study and also one of the most challenging. It remains one of the prime methods for investigation of diseases of the lungs and mediastinal structures and of the heart and pulmonary circulation despite recent advances in other non invasive techniques. Since the discovery of x-ray more than a century ago advances in technology have yielded numerous improvements in thoracic imaging. The technical aspects of conventional chest radiographic examination have been studied extensively and effects of various parameters on the quality of chest radiographs are part of the Canadian Association of Radiologists Standards for Chest Radiography and the ACR Standards for Chest Radiography, but still insufficient attention is being directed towards technical factors concerned with improving the diagnostic content and diminishing patient exposure in chest radiography. This communication addresses issues involved in production of the optimal chest radiographs by current standards. All radiographic examinations should be done in accordance with the CAR Standards for General (Plain) Radiography II. INDICATIONS The concept of heart and lung as a single cardiopulmonary system is encouraged in this context and rigid compartmentalization of the chest is to be avoided. Chest radiography is performed to assess the presence and nature of respiratory and cardiac disease. Indication for chest radiography include: -Signs and symptoms related to the respiratory and cardiac system, such as chest pain, dyspnea or cough. -Follow-up of patients with diagnosed respiratory or cardiac disease for the evaluation of improvement, resolution or progression. -Monitoring of patients in intensive care units, patients with life supporting devices, and patients who have undergone cardiac or thoracic surgery. -To rule out metastasis in patients with extrathoracic malignancies, to rule out bronchogenic carcinoma or mediastinal tumours in patients with paraneoplastic symdromes, in the investigation of fever of unknown origin, and in the assessment of patients with severe trauma. -Based on the clinical assessment and/ or evaluation of the chest radiograph further examination of the chest with other imaging modalities may be indicated. To be continued....................
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 09:36:55 +0000
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