Experiences with Planography

¹ The Fort William Sanatorium, Fort William, Ontario, Canada.

The technique of planography of the chest as used at the Fort William Sanatorium in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis has been described. In most cases the patients are examined in the vertical position, placed so that the central ray is directed towards the center of the lesion. As in plain radiography of the chest, serial re-examination with planography seems to us most important. This will help in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our treatment and in the early recognition of progressive or retrogressive changes even in minimal lesions. The main indications for the use of planography in pulmonary tuberculosis are: the demonstration of cavities, the exact location of lesions prior to surgery, the detailed analysis of minimal lesions, especially in the apices.

Planography is used in addition to all other methods of examination which are necessary to make the diagnosis of disease as complete and accurate as possible.