Medical imaging in asthma.

Asthma is a common disease characterized by hyperreactivity of airways to a variety of stimuli. Efficacy studies have shown that while in adults there is no positive predictive value between radiographic abnormalities and certain clinical parameters, in children there may be some correlation with age and the presence of rales. In the Yale-New Haven Emergency Service it is suggested that certain clinical criteria be used to determine which patients receive chest radiographs. A retrospective review of 563 adult asthmatics who presented to the Yale Emergency Room revealed that one third of the patients were radiographed; 50% of these were over 50 years of age, and the overall incidence of radiographic abnormalities that would change patient management was only 3%. Radiographic findings have been categorized into two groups, uncomplicated and complicated asthma, depending on whether bronchodilators will effect a response.