Limitation of single picture interpretation in mass radiography

Narain, Raj and Subramanian, M. (1962) Limitation of single picture interpretation in mass radiography. In: 18th Natl. TB & Chest Dis. Work. Conf., 16-19 Jan 1962, Bangalore, India.

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Abstract

Surveys with mass miniature radiography are, at present, one of the most important methods available for measuring the size and extent of tuberculosis problem especially in the developing countries. Even countries with reliable vital statistics have found this method useful for estimating tuberculosis morbidity more accurately than from the data obtained by notification of disease and death. Its value in case finding programmes is well-recognised. Nevertheless, mass radiography with a single picture of the chest has a fairly wide margin of error, which is partly reflected in the great differences in reading of X-ray films by different individuals or even by the same individual on different occasions. If the total number of genuine cases in a community could be known, the magnitude of error involved could easily be estimated. But available methods of knowing the total number of tuberculosis cases in any given community are inadequate; other standards against which errors may be measured are rather artificial. In fact, even a universally accepted definition of a case of tuberculosis is not available.

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