title: [Plain abdominal radiograph - is there any additional clinical value based on the supine projection?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the diagnostic value of an additionally acquired plain abdominal radiograph in supine position.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two experienced radiologists evaluated retrospectively 2148 consecutive patients having plain abdominal radiographs acquired in a tertiary care center. There were 1385 patients having an erect view and 763 patients with a left lateral decubitus view. All patients had a second examination in supine position. First the radiographs in erect or decubitus view were evaluated regarding the presence and details of pathological changes. After 4 weeks all radiographs including the supine view were evaluated again. Next to pathological changes the additional value of the supine projection was assessed. The results were compared and the additional diagnostic value using the supine view was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 2148 patients having a plain abdominal radiograph (1325 men, 823 women, mean 58.9 years, range 15-96 years). The average age within the group acquired with left decubitus view was 61.1 years, while patients having an erect view had a mean age of 57.0 years. For the first evaluation we found pathological changes in 10.5% (decubitus view: 13.1%, erect view 9.5%; p = 0.01). The most frequent diagnosis was ileus (7.7%) followed by abdominal free air (2.4%). The results were confirmed during the second reading in 99.2%. In 3.5% (decubitus view 5.8%, erect view 2.2%) more anatomical structures were depicted considering the supine projection and the decubitus/erect projections. The anatomical information was in no case relevant for the diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having the information of an supine view additionally to an decubitus/erect view increases the depiction of anatomical structures up to 5.8%. Nevertheless there was no additional diagnostic relevant information based on the supine view.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Röntgendiagnostik, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, Bad Abbach. p.hoffstetter@asklepios.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoffstetter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schleder
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Götz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Uller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller-Wille
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wiggermann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agha
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stroszczynski
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Schreyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016683:Supine Position; D055815:Young Adult