Plain film evaluation of patients with abdominal pain: are three radiographs necessary?
Current recommendations for the plain radiographic evaluation of abdominal pain suggest a minimum three-film series including an erect and supine abdominal view and an erect chest study. Three film radiographic abdominal "series" were obtained in 252 consecutive emergency-room patients who presented with abdominal pain. The views were analyzed independently for their relative diagnostic value. Radiologic pathologic findings were present in 20% of the abdominal films and in 13% of the chest radiographs. The supine abdominal view and the erect chest study diagnosed normality or abnormality in 98% of these patients. The elimination of the erect abdominal view from the routine abdominal series could result in financial savings, decreased radiation exposure, and a more efficient use of technician time, without significant loss of diagnostic information.
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008722:Methods; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic