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Original ArticleOpen Access
Evaluation of the Necessity of the Three-Film Abdominal Series in the Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain
Ukrisana P 
,
Yenarkarn P
,
Yenarkarn P PATHANA UKRISANA, M.D.*,
PANUCH YENARKARN, M.D.*
The routine plain-film abdominal series, consisting of supine and upright abdominal radio-
graphs and upright chest radiograph of 246 patients, who presented with abdominal pain from the
emergency room of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital from
January 2000 to May 2001 were reviewed.
Each radiograph was independently interpreted to detect any radiographic abnormality.
Radiographic abnormalities
~ere
detected in 35 per cent on abdominal films and 13 per cent on chest
films. The supine abdominal views could diagnose abnormalities in
84
per cent of these patients while
the upright views diagnosed abnormalities in only
16 per cent of these cases. Most of the detectable
abnormalities in the upright views were pneumoperitoneums that were clearly demonstrated on the
upright chest radiographs.
So elimination of the upright abdominal view from the routine plain-film abdominal series
in the screening of surgical cases from medical cases could result in cost-saving and a decrease in
radiation exposure without significant loss of diagnostic information.
Key word : Three-Film Abdominal Series, Abdominal Pain, Diagnosis
PANUCH YENARKARN, M.D.*
The routine plain-film abdominal series, consisting of supine and upright abdominal radio-
graphs and upright chest radiograph of 246 patients, who presented with abdominal pain from the
emergency room of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Medical College and Vajira Hospital from
January 2000 to May 2001 were reviewed.
Each radiograph was independently interpreted to detect any radiographic abnormality.
Radiographic abnormalities
~ere
detected in 35 per cent on abdominal films and 13 per cent on chest
films. The supine abdominal views could diagnose abnormalities in
84
per cent of these patients while
the upright views diagnosed abnormalities in only
16 per cent of these cases. Most of the detectable
abnormalities in the upright views were pneumoperitoneums that were clearly demonstrated on the
upright chest radiographs.
So elimination of the upright abdominal view from the routine plain-film abdominal series
in the screening of surgical cases from medical cases could result in cost-saving and a decrease in
radiation exposure without significant loss of diagnostic information.
Key word : Three-Film Abdominal Series, Abdominal Pain, Diagnosis
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