X-ray preliminary reporting is a rapid and first-line imaging modality used in emergency, trauma, or after-hours settings. This method is useful for immediate clinical intervention. It is used to detect urgent and life-threatening findings such as fractures, dislocations, pneumothorax, bowel obstruction, free air, infections, and malpositioned lines or tubes. To reduce the turnaround time (TAT), preliminary reports are commonly prepared to be brief and contain only necessary details for deciding a treatment. These are typically prepared by a remotely operating radiologist. A final report is prepared later. This approach ensures diagnostic accuracy and ensures timely patient treatment.
The following subcategories are found under X-ray preliminary readings:
Chest X-rays
The chest X-rays are the most common radiological method used for preliminary reporting. The chest X-ray analyzes the organs and supporting systems in the chest and the thoracic region, such as lung fields, pleural space, cardiac silhouette, mediastinum, and bones. These are portable devices and are used in ER and ICU for rapid imaging. Using a chest X-ray, radiologists can detect diseases like acute respiratory distress, chest pain, fever with suspected infection, trauma, and ICU monitoring.
Abdominal X-ray
Abdominal x-rays are used to observe the anatomy of the organs and systems in the abdomen and pelvic region. These systems include gastrointestinal tract, liver and spleen outlines, kidneys and urinary tract, psoas muscles and retroperitoneum, abdominal soft tissues, bones, calcifications, free intraperitoneal air, etc. An abdominal x-rays are useful in the diagnosis of bowel gas patterns, dilated bowel loops, air-fluid levels, free intraperitoneal air, radiopaque foreign bodies, and calcifications.
Musculoskeletal X-ray
Musculoskeletal X-rays are widely used in the emergency department for accidental traumas and injuries. It analyzes the bones, ligaments, and supporting structures. There can be multiple views, like joint-specific, AP, lateral, and oblique, that can be observed in musculoskeletal x-rays. Musculoskeletal x-rays are useful in the detection of fractures and fracture alignment, dislocations and subluxations, joint space abnormalities, bone lesions, soft tissue swelling, and foreign bodies.
Skull X-ray
A skull x-ray is performed to observe anatomical sections of the brain and supporting structures. The most common views used in a skull x-ray are lateral, AP and towne views. This procedure is useful in the detection of skull injuries in the skull region. It is useful in the detection of skull fractures, bone defects, foreign bodies, and paranasal sinus air-fluid levels.