Cystic Fibrosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cystic Fibrosis, including details on symptoms, genetics, treatment, information.

Paediatric Northern Score centile charts for the chest radiograph in cystic fibrosis.

McCormick J, Conway SP, Mehta A

Respiratory Unit, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill NHS Trust, Glasgow, UK. jdmccormick@btinternet.com

AIM: To create the first national centile charts for the chest radiograph Northern Score using the UK Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Database (UKCFD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All active patients for 2002 from the UKCFD were analysed in 1-year cohorts from 0 to 18 years. Northern Score results from the annual review forms were used to construct centile lines for the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th centiles. RESULTS: There were 1806 patients with recorded Northern Score data for 2002 (927 male patients, male:female ratio 1.05). The centile chart demonstrates a quasi-linear rise throughout childhood. A Northern Score in excess of age in years equates to >95th centile in school-aged CF patients. CONCLUSION: This centile chart provides a disease-specific reference range for monitoring individual patients or for evaluating therapeutic change using the dominant chest radiograph scoring system in the UK. Patients, parents and clinicians may find these useful during the annual review process.

Published 5 December 2006 in Clin Radiol, 62(1): 78-81.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Cystic Fibrosis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.