title: Routine preoperative chest radiography in non-cardiopulmonary surgery.
abstract: Preoperative radiography was performed on 667 consecutive patients undergoing elective non-cardiopulmonary surgery in a large hospital in Wales. Of all significant findings reported 54% were due to cardiomegaly and 19% to chronic respiratory disease, and no appreciable abnormality was found in any patient under 30. Out of a subsample of 152 examined prospectively, 38% had received a chest radiograph within the last year, and the maximum marrow dose had been exceeded in 12-5%. It is concluded that the procedure, as presently practised, is not only being considerably overused but is also exposing many recipients to the potentially harmful effects of over-irradiation. The findings provide further evidence in support of the Royal College of Radiologists' proposal that a national multicentre study of diagnostic radiology should be set up with some urgency.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*