[Cost of medical imaging practices in acute abdominal syndromes]

To describe the costs of medical imaging practices in the diagnosis management of acute abdominal pain (AAP).

Medical imaging techniques until decision for treatment were prospectively recorded in patients presenting with AAP. Direct costs used hospital analytic accountability. Time of human resources involved was also surveyed prospectively.

In 122 adult patients (2.3 examinations on average) before treatment decision making, the more frequent practices were: initial plain abdomen x-ray followed by tomodensitometry (36.8%), by echography or endoscopy (17.2%), plain abdomen solely (19.6%) or initial abdominal tomodensitometry (12.3%). Direct costs ranged from 977 to 1073 FF for practices with initial plain abdomen x-ray, and from 996 to 1150 FF with initial tomodensitometry. It ranged from 808 to 880 FF when the treatment decision was surgery, and 300 FF higher when it was medical.

Differences in costs assessed for practices were very narrow. Such information should be taken into account to determine cost-effective strategies, and to built up reference guidelines.