> 55 year old female smoker asks for a screening CXR as her younger sister
> (heavier smoker) has just been diagnosed lung ca.
>
> Should I order a CXR in an otherwise healthy person?
> What is the reliability, validity, predictive value etc. of the test?
> How often should it be repeated?
I would
this is different to a general screening program inflicted on a populaation
that were not asking for it , where your questions are very appropriate and
would result of course in the conclusion that it should not be done.
However your patient has come to you with symptoms - she is distressed,
anxious etc - this is an important difference IMO
I can easily imagine a consultaion where the result would be an agreed cxr
(along with all the usual gp stuff)
The radiation risk is minimal (about 1 day natural background - similar to
an 8 hour flight ie higher up you recieve more natural radiation - unlike
incidently a thoracic CT scan which is about 8 years natural background!)
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