BACKGROUND: Chest X‑ray is one of the most frequent examinations in radiology and its interpretation is considered part of the basic knowledge of every radiologist.
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to recognize common signs and patterns of pneumonias and pseudonodules in chest X‑rays and to provide a diagnostic guideline for young radiologists.
METHODS: Recent studies and data are analyzed and an overview of the most common signs and patterns in chest X‑ray is provided.
RESULTS: Knowledge about common signs and patterns in chest X‑ray is helpful in the diagnosis of pneumonias and can be indicative for the cause of an infection. However, those signs are often unspecific and should, therefore, be set in clinical content. Computed tomography is becoming increasingly important in the primary diagnosis of pulmonary lesions because of its much higher sensitivity.
CONCLUSIONS: Chest X‑ray is still the first-line modality in the diagnosis of pneumonia and pulmonary nodules; however, radiologists should be aware of its limitations.
UNASSIGNED: HINTERGRUND: Das konventionelle Röntgenbild zählt zu den am häufigsten durchgeführten radiologischen Untersuchungen. Seine Interpretation gehört zu den Grundkenntnissen jedes Radiologen.
UNASSIGNED: Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, häufige Zeichen und Muster der Pneumonie sowie Merkmale von Pseudoläsionen im konventionellen Röntgenbild zu erkennen und einen diagnostischen Leitfaden für junge Radiologen zu schaffen.
METHODS: Analyse aktueller Studien und Daten sowie eine Übersicht der häufigsten Zeichen und Muster im konventionellen Röntgenbild.
UNASSIGNED: Die Kenntnis über häufige Zeichen und Muster im Röntgenbild bietet eine Hilfestellung in der Diagnostik und kann hinweisend für die Ursache einer Infektion sein. Häufig sind diese Zeichen jedoch unspezifisch und sollten daher immer in klinische Korrelation gesetzt werden. In der Detektion und Beurteilung von pulmonalen Rundherden gewinnt die Computertomographie (CT) durch ihre deutlich höhere Sensitivität in der Primärdiagnostik immer mehr an Bedeutung.
UNASSIGNED: Das konventionelle Röntgenbild bildet weiterhin eine führende Rolle in der Primärdiagnostik; der Radiologe sollte jedoch die Limitationen des konventionellen Bildes kennen.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate collimation helps to reduce unnecessary irradiation and improves radiographic image quality, which is especially important in the radiosensitive paediatric population. For AP/PA chest radiographs in children, a minimal field size (MinFS) from \"just above the lung apices\" to \"T12/L1\" with age-dependent tolerance is suggested by the 1996 European Commission (EC) guidelines, which were examined qualitatively and quantitatively at a paediatric radiology division.
METHODS: Five hundred ninety-eight unprocessed chest X-rays (45% boys, 55% girls; mean age 3.9 years, range 0-18 years) were analysed with a self-developed tool. Qualitative standards were assessed based on the EC guidelines, as well as the overexposed field size and needlessly irradiated tissue compared to the MinFS.
RESULTS: While qualitative guideline recommendations were satisfied, mean overexposure of +45.1 ± 18.9% (range +10.2% to +107.9%) and tissue overexposure of +33.3 ± 13.3% were found. Only 4% (26/598) of the examined X-rays completely fulfilled the EC guidelines.
CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a new chest radiography quality control tool which allows assessment of field sizes, distances, overexposures and quality parameters based on the EC guidelines. Utilising this tool, we detected inadequate field sizes, inspiration depths, and patient positioning. Furthermore, some debatable EC guideline aspects were revealed.
CONCLUSIONS: • European Guidelines on X-ray quality recommend exposed field sizes for common examinations. • The major failing in paediatric radiographic imaging techniques is inappropriate field size. • Optimal handling of radiographic units can reduce radiation exposure to paediatric patients. • Constant quality control helps ensure optimal chest radiographic image acquisition in children.