Utility and efficacy of portable chest radiographs

Portable films were monitored for 10-day periods in 1979 and 1982. Information was gathered on the indications for the examinations, the number of positive findings and their relation to the clinical condition of the patient, and whether or not the examination was properly performed as a portable or emergency examination. There were positive radiographic findings in 45.4% of the examinations. The most common indication for requesting an examination was to monitor a known lesion including daily routine films; surprisingly, 37% of these examinations demonstrated new radiographic findings even though the patients demonstrated no change in their clinical status. Portable technique was indicated in 94% of the cases, while only 56% should have been ordered as an emergency.