[Are chest radiographs justified in pre-employment examinations? Presentation of legal position and medical evidence based on 1760 cases].
BACKGROUND
The legal and medical basis for chest radiographs as part of pre-employment examinations (PEE) at a University Hospital is evaluated. The radiographs are primarily performed to exclude infectious lung disease.


METHODS
A total of 1760 consecutive chest radiographs performed as a routine part of PEEs were reviewed retrospectively. Pathologic findings were categorized as "nonrelevant" or "relevant."


RESULTS
No positive finding with respect to tuberculosis or any other infectious disease was found; 94.8% of the chest radiographs were completely normal. Only five findings were regarded as "relevant" for the individual. No employment-relevant diagnosis occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
The performance of chest radiography as part of a PEE is most often not justified. The practice is expensive, can violate national and European law, and lacks medical justification.
Ladd
S C
SC
Institut für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen. susanne.ladd@uni-duisberg-essen.de
Krause
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U
Ladd
M E
ME
D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007586:Job Application; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*