Rise in Use of Computed Tomography in an Academic ED

From 2001 to 2007, CT use increased at a rate of approximately 10 scans per 1000 visits annually at a single urban academic emergency department.

The rise in use of diagnostic imaging — especially computed tomography (CT) — along with associated costs and radiation exposure has received national attention. In a retrospective study, researchers quantified CT use at a single urban academic emergency department (ED) from 2001 to 2007.

Rates of CT use were 51 per 1000 patient-visits in 2001 and 106 per 1000 visits in 2007. During the study period, use of CT increased steadily at a rate of approximately 10 CT scans per 1000 patient-visits annually. Although use of CT increased in all anatomic categories assessed (face, head, neck, chest, and abdomen-pelvis), increases were greatest for chest CT (6-fold increase) and neck CT (5-fold increase).

C…

Reviewing Author

Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose