The Value of Routine Chest Radiography in Children

To assess the value of routine chest roentgenographic examinations at the time of admission, we analysed chest roentgenogram of 1,283 patients under the age of 15 who were admitted to St. Paul's Hospital from 1975 to 1977. A bonormal radiographic findings were detected in 111out of 1,283 Patients(8.7%). In 108 patients with abnormal findings, no medical or surgical therapy was required except three nowborn infants who had medical therapy as a result of pneumonic infiltration. In view of clinical analysis of 1,283 patients, it is considered that routine chest roentgenographic examinations were not warranted in patients under the age of 15 but justifiable in newborn infants.