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Added value of radiologist consultation to family practitioners in the outpatient setting
E A Franken1, G R Bergus, T J Koch
1Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Purpose:
To measure the added value of a radiologist's consultation to the interpretation of radiographs previously read by a family practitioner.
Materials And Methods:
The authors reviewed 1,674 chest and extremity radiographs previously read by a family practitioner and consulting radiologist. The 196 radiographs in which there was a discrepancy between the family practitioner's and radiologist's report were evaluated by a radiologist and family physician not involved in and blinded to the original interpretations. The overall accuracy of the participants was determined and differences statistically quantified.
Results:
The overall sensitivity of the radiologists was greater than that of the family practitioners (92% vs 86%); specificity was not significantly different. For extremity examinations, there were no significant differences in accuracy of the radiologists and family practitioners; the sensitivity of radiologists for chest studies was considerably greater (89% vs 80%). Radiologic consultation was of particular value in the detection of pneumonia and masses.
Conclusion:
At a family practice center, the radiologist's role for extremity radiographs might be limited to individual consultation, with review of all chest radiographs.