title: Routine oblique radiography of the pediatric lumbar spine: is it necessary?
abstract: A series of 86 pediatric lumbar spine abnormalities was evaluated to determine the diagnostic benefit of radiography in oblique projection as compared to frontal-lateral projections alone. In only four patients was an abnormality apparent on the oblique view which had not already been demonstrated by the frontal-lateral series; each of these represented an isolated spondylolysis. Because the diagnostic yield was low at a patient cost of more than double the gonadal radiation dose, it is recommended that oblique views be eliminated in the routine radiography of the pediatric lumbar spine.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging