[Frequent errors in the interpretation of chest x-ray films]

Chest radiography is responsible for 17.6% of all radiographic exposures; its results are false negative in 20-30% and false positive in 2-5%. False negative interpretations arise mainly in the retrocardiac area, the borderline between the chest wall and mediastinum, and in the mediastinum itself. Misinterpretation of recognized findings is due not only to technical factors, varying cooperation and individual variation, but also to false localization and inaccurate differential diagnosis. These errors can be reduced by awareness of history and clinical symptoms, systematic analysis of all anatomic compartments, comparison with previous studies, use of the lateral projection to obtain precise localization, and in case of nonspecificity, use of chest radiography to select the most appropriate and specific radiological or clinical investigation.