[Interpretation of thoracic radiographs re-examined and corrected with tomodensitometry]

To our knowledge, conventional chest radiography is not likely to become obsolete or disappear from the daily practice of medical imaging. As such, it is important to insure that chest radiographs are acquired using optimal technique. Evaluation of chest radiograph findings must be comprehensive and the art of reading chest radiographs must be well thought to physicians in training. Chest radiography is characterized by the projection of tridimensional anatomical structures and disease processes onto a two-plane radiographic film. Correlation with cross-sectional data obtained from CT may greatly enhance the understanding and interpretation of conventional chest radiographs. Indeed, review of CT images facilitates anatomical understanding of the segmental and subsegmental anatomy, of the superior segments of the lower lobes and of the three dimensional orientation of the fissures. CT also has improved the understanding of some chest radiography findings. Careful review of findings at chest radiography is helpful to optimize CT acquisition protocols in order to reduce some of the pitfalls of CT and improve detection of specific processes that could otherwise be poorly demonstrated or overlooked. Chest radiographs can sometimes detect diseases or abnormalities that are difficult to demonstrate at CT.