[X-ray- and other medical imaging in Iceland 1993. Assessed and compared with earlier surveys.]

A country-wide survey of the use and utilization of medical imaging in Iceland was undertaken, by gathering of available information for the year 1993. The aim was primarily to assess the overall consumption of these services, with regard to radiation and the impact of other imaging modalities. Reference was made to earlier studies of the same kind adding a more specified break-down of information regarding age and sex as well as types of examination. The results are presented in tables and figures with accompanying text in English. The conclusions may be summed up as follows: 1: The average yearly increase in diagnostic imaging using ionizing radiation for the past 10 years was 1.7%, whereas the total average yearly increase of diagnostic imaging was 3.6%. This difference may be almost exclusively attributed to the increase in the use of ultrasound. 2: Although x-ray facilities are quite widely distributed, mainly due to geographic reasons, the main bulk of all examinations are made in a few specialised departments, and 92.8% of all examinations made are supervised by specialists in radiology, either directly or by consultation. 3: The overall number of examinations per 1000 population was 680, having increased from 555 in 1984. Comparable figures (1990) were 800 in the U.S. and 465 in the U.K.