Limited Utility of Routine Chest X-Ray (CXR) in Initial Evaluation of Febrile Neutropenia in Patients with Haematological Diseases Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract

Abstract Background Initial investigations for patients presenting to health services with febrile neutropenia (FN) aim to identify the infective source. Routine CXR is recommended by several international guidelines as a component of this assessment. However, in the era of rapid delivery of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics, the evidence supporting use of CXR in detecting chest infection in asymptomatic patients and its role in directing management are lacking. While CXRs are considered relatively inexpensive, accessible and low-risk, they still contribute to the overall healthcare bill, expose patients to ionising radiation and may involve moving immunocomp..