title: The lateral neck radiograph in suspected impacted fish bones--does it have a role?
abstract: A double blind trial, using lateral neck radiographs of 100 patients with proven impacted fish bones and 100 normal cases, was conducted to assess the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of radiography for impacted fish bones. Values of 25.3%, 86.3% and 72.7% respectively were obtained. The results are correlated to the clinical findings and reasons for the poor performance of radiography are discussed. It is recommended that routine radiography for suspected impacted fish bones should be abandoned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rhys Williams
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Van Hasselt
mesh_terms: D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography