Clinical and Laboratory Findings in Patients With Acute Respiratory Symptoms That Suggest the Necessity of a Chest X-ray for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Abstract

This study's findings suggest that requesting chest radiographs might not be necessary in patients with acute respiratory symptoms unless the vital signs and/or physical examination findings are abnormal. Considering the 94% sensitivity of this rule for predicting CAP, a chest radiograph is required for patients with unreliable follow-ups or moderate to high likelihood of morbidity if CAP is not initially detected.