HUMERAL OSTEONECROSIS LEADING TO THE EARLY DETECTION OF A BRONCHIAL CARCINOMA

Abstract

The new Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (IR (ME)ER) were implemented in January 2001. These regulations state that “the referrer must record in the patient’s notes that a radiograph was taken and what it showed”. As a result it is now incumbent upon the orthopaedic surgeon to document formally the findings of all requested radiographs. We present a case in which a left upper bronchial carcinoma was detected initially on a radiograph of the left shoulder. It highlights the importance of careful examination of the entire radiographic image and the documenting of the findings.