AUDIT PRESENTATION : ARE FOLLOW UP CHEST X RAYS BEING PERFORMED ACCORDING TO BTS GUIDELINES ON ADULTS DIAGNOSED RADIOLOGICALLY WITH COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA

Introduction: The aim of this audit was to evaluate whether follow-up chest x-rays were performed on adults diagnosed with Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) radiologically, according to British Thoracic Society national guidelines and compare with results from previous audit.

Background: Lung cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in both men and women. Late presentation is common and therefore the mortality associated with the disease is significant, accounting for 1 in 5 deaths from cancer. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of pneumonia are also found in patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Patients who have lung cancer are also more susceptible to superadded infection. As infective radiological changes may mask an underlying undetected malignancy, follow-up x-ray should be performed within 6 weeks to ensure resolution of radiographic opacities, as would be anticipated in pneumonia.

Methodology: To retrospectively identify 50 cases of radiologically diagnosed CAP in adults of a busy city hospital and to quantify the number of these who went on to have a 6 week follow-up chest X-ray as per national guidelines

Results:

• Total number of cases – 50
• Follow up CXR/CT requested/arranged – 38/50
• Follow up CXR/CT performed – 21/38

Conclusion – 21/50 patients had follow up imaging                      of the 21 patients who underwent subsequent imaging,       one was diagnosed with lung cancer subsequently.

 

Author(s): Shitanshu kalani

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