Roentgen manifestations of diseases in southwestern Indians.

Cumulative 15-year experience at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center shows that among southwestern American Indians the most common cause of dense bones is fluorosis. Bronchogenic carcinoma and duodenal ulcer are rare, but the benign-to-malignant ratio of gastric ulcers reverses that of the general population. Biliary disease is frequent; massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding is usually due to esophageal varices secondary to cirrhosis. There is a high prevalence of tuberculosis, coccidioidomycosis, congenital hip disease, and chronic otitis media. Total anomalous venous return and transposition of great vessels are predominant causes of cyanotic heart disease. Pulmonary edema due to myocardial infarction is rare.