[Thoracic radiography as routine within cardiological diagnosis?].
OBJECTIVE
As chest radiography is still frequently used routinely in patients suspected of heart disease, the study was undertaken prospectively to assess its value in view of the potentials of modern noninvasive methods.


METHODS
History, physical examination, electrocardiography, ergometry, echocardiography and colour Doppler echocardiography as well as chest radiography were undertaken in 201 consecutive patients (113 men, 88 women, age 60 [3-88] years) with known or suspected cardiac valvular defects or heart failure. Subsequently invasive investigations were performed in 92 of these patients.


RESULTS
The value of chest radiography depended on the nature and severity of the particular cardiac disease. The diagnosis was established without chest radiography in all defects (40 patients) of grade III or IV (New York Heart Association) or NYHA class III or IV heart failure (30 patients). Chest radiography provided no additional prognostic or therapeutic information.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that routine chest radiography is of no value as a screening method in patients with chronic heart failure or cardiac defects, except in a few clearly defined specific circumstances.
Häuber
B
B
Rotes-Kreuz-Krankenhaus und Herzzentrum, Frankfurt am Main.
Göhring
S
S
Reifart
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic
Röntgen-Thorax-Untersuchung als Routine im Rahmen einer kardiologischen Diagnostik?