CT and Ultrasound Imaging in Children with Nontraumatic Abdominal Pain Has Plateaued Since 2007

However, compared with children presenting to general emergency departments (EDs), children presenting to pediatric EDs were less likely to undergo abdominal computed tomography and more likely to receive an ultrasound.

Investigators used the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to estimate use of abdominal computed tomography (CT) and abdominal ultrasound performed by radiology among children (<21 years of age) presenting to U.S. emergency departments (EDs) for nontraumatic abdominal pain from 2007 to 2014.

There were roughly 5000 such visits in the sample set (58% by children aged 13–19 years), representing an estimated 21 million visits nationally. At these visits, 15% of patients received CT only, 11% ultrasound only, and 2% both. Appendicitis was diagnosed in 4% of patients, of whom 59% received CT only, 9% ultrasound only, and 7% both; 24% received neither imaging modality. The percentage of patients undergoing any imaging and the percentage diagno…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

CT and Ultrasound Imaging in Children with Nontraumatic Abdominal Pain Has Plateaued Since 2007

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Reviewing Author