Author: Jared Scott, MD

Educational Pearls:

• CXR is 40-90% sensitive for detecting pneumonia when compared to CT
• Patients with a high degree of suspicion for pneumonia may still warrant treatment despite a negative CXR

References:

Self WH, Courtney DM, McNaughton CD, Wunderink RG, Kline JA. High discordance of chest x-ray and computed tomography for detection of pulmonary opacities in ED patients: implications for diagnosing pneumonia. Am J Emerg Med. 2013 Feb;31(2):401-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2012.08.041. Epub 2012 Oct 18. PubMed PMID: 23083885; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3556231.

Summarized by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD