Utilization and Diagnostic Yield of Chest X-Rays in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Background: Chest x-ray (CXR) remains a major tool for the diagnosis and management of many diseases ravaging mankind. The aim of this study is to assess the chest x-ray requests and findings in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

 Methods: A retrospective study of 1,624 patients who underwent chest x-ray examination at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo. 

Results: The results showed that more females, (58%, n = 943) were referred for chest x-ray than the males, (42%, n = 681). The highest indication for chest x-rays in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital is respiratory symptoms (29.5%, n = 480). Patients between 36 years to 50 years had the highest referral for chest x-ray. Most of the chest x-ray referrals were from General Practice Clinic (33% n = 542). More than half of the chest x-ray referrals (65.1%, n = 1058) were normal while the remaining (34.9%, n = 566) were abnormal. The chest radiographs of all patients for medical exam/Routine check appeared normal.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that while chest X-rays remain valuable for symptomatic patients, the high proportion of normal results (65.1%) suggests over-referral, particularly from General Practice Clinics. However appropriate clinical diagnosis should always be conducted to reduce the number of normal chest-x-rays diagnosed. Routine chest X-rays should be discouraged as they almost amount to unnecessary irradiation of patients with low diagnostic yield.