title: The plain X-ray in the acute abdomen: a surgeon's evaluation.
abstract: The plain abdominal X-rays of 277 patients suffering from five acute abdominal conditions were reviewed and specific radiological features found to occur in not less than 48% of the cases. In a second series of 249 patients admitted to hospital with an acute abdomen due to all types of disease, the plain abdominal X-rays were helpful in 42% of cases. A questionnaire of 50 plain abdominal X-rays was answered by surgeons and radiologists of varying clinical experience, the scores of the senior radiologists being higher. It is suggested that plain abdominal X-rays should become a routine investigation in the acute abdomen, and should be reported by senior radiologists at the time of the investigation.
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010439:Peptic Ulcer Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography