Survey of X-ray radiographies and sonographies conducted at a university hospital from 1977 to 1982

In the framework of research project number St.Sch. 745 commissioned by the Federal Ministry of the Interior under the heading 'literature research regarding radiation exposure of patients in medicine', the question was raised in how far alternative investigation methods can change the patients' radiation exposure. A test inquiry was therefore carried through at a university hospital to establish the development of the ratio of X-ray radiographies conducted to ultrasonographics from 1977 to including 1982. For the selected diagnoses a distinct reduction of X-ray radiographies in favour of ultrasonography was established, although a qualification must be made for gastric diseases in which endoscopy predominates as an alternative investigation method. In addition, the corresponding sonographic literature was rapidly surveyed according to body respectively organ areas with a view to possible reduction of the patients' radiation exposure resulting from X-ray diagnosis. The literature for the years 1979 to 1983 was primarily scanned to that end. A brief survey of the physical and technical bases of ultrasonography is moreover given. (orig./MG)