Interpretation of dental and maxillofacial radiographs: a comparative study using an X-ray viewing box and window.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain if interpretation of radiographs by holding them up to a window rather than using a light viewing box has led to underdetection of clinically significant radiographic abnormalities.


METHODS
Twenty members of staff were selected randomly. They were divided into two group i.e., ten house offers (Group 1), five specialist registrars and five demonstrators (Group 2). They interpreted 10 radiographs by first holding them up against a window, and then by using a light viewing box. A score out of 10 was obtained at each time (one for each film).


RESULTS
A mean score of 6.6 (6 per cent) was obtained for Group 1 and a mean score of 8 (80 per cent) was obtained for Group 2 when radiographs were interpreted using a window. The mean score for both groups was 10 when a light viewing box was used.


CONCLUSIONS
Important radiographic abnormalities went undetected when the light box was not used. Awareness should be raised among hospital staff with regard to the importance of using light viewing boxes for the interpretation of radiographs.
Makdissi
Jamil
J
Department of Dental Radiology, Guy's Hospital, London, England.
D003798:Dental Staff, Hospital; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008443:Maxillary Sinus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D013039:Specialties, Dental; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric