Utility of Routine Chest Radiographs in Kenya
East Afr. Med. J
; 91(7): 216-218, 2014.
Article
in English
| AIM
| ID: biblio-1261368
Responsible library:
CG1.1
ABSTRACT
Background:
Many otherwise healthy Kenyans are required to obtain chest radiographs as part of routine medical examination to exclude pulmonary TB; a condition of significant public health concern. Many of these people are required to have these radiographs taken yearly as part of routine check-up. No local data is available to support this practice. Though a quick procedure to perform and readily available throughout the country; chest radiograph exposes the individual to a dose of ionising radiation. Ionising radiation is associated with increased risk of malignancy. The cost is also substantial.Objective:
To determine the prevalence of radiological findings consistent with PTB among routine medical examination chest radiographs.Design:
A cross-sectional descriptive study. Settings Department of Radiology Kenyatta National Hospital;Department of Imaging and Radiation Medicine; University of Nairobi; Plaza Imaging Solutions; a private radiology practice in Nairobi and Department of Radiology; the Nairobi Hospital.Subjects:
Four hundred and two chest radiographs of patients presenting for routine medical examinations were analysed.Results:
Sixty three radiographs had abnormal but clinically insignificant findings (16). Only one radiograph (0.25). Only one radiograph (0.25) had radiological features of PTB. The rest were reported as normal (84).Conclusion:
In this study; the diagnostic yield for the intended purpose (to include/ exclude PTB) was extremely low (0.25). It is recommended that routine chest radiographs as screening tools for active pulmonary tuberculosis be reconsidered due to poor diagnostic yield. The authors propose a bigger nation wide study before a policy decision can be proposed
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Index:
AIM (Africa)
Main subject:
Physical Examination
/
Tuberculosis
/
Radiography
/
Cross-Sectional Studies
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Language:
English
Journal:
East Afr. Med. J
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
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