Use of CT for children who visit the emergency department has increased fivefold, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and published online April 5 in Radiology.
Dr. David Larson and colleagues examined nationwide trends and factors associated with the use of CT in children visiting emergency departments in the U.S. between 1995 and 2008.
The group used data from the 1995-2008 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to evaluate the number and percentage of visits associated with CT for patients younger than 18 years. During the time period, the percentage of visits associated with CT increased from 1.2% to 5.9%, a 4.8-fold increase, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.8%, Larson and colleagues wrote.
The study findings highlight the need for special measures to ensure that imaging exams for children are appropriately ordered, performed, and interpreted, according to the researchers.
