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CT Scans in Young People in Great Britain: Temporal and Descriptive Patterns, 1993-2002.
Mark S Pearce1, Jane A Salotti, Nicola L Howe
1Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK.
Radiology Research and Practice
|July 14, 2012
Summary
Computed tomography (CT) use in individuals under 22 years old in Great Britain doubled between 1993 and 2002. This increase was most pronounced in older adolescents, with head scans being most common.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Computed tomography (CT) offers significant diagnostic benefits.
- Concerns exist regarding radiation exposure from CT and potential cancer risks.
- Limited data available on CT utilization trends in pediatric and adolescent populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate temporal trends in CT usage among patients under 22 years in Great Britain from 1993 to 2002.
- To identify patterns in CT examinations across different age groups within this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electronic data from Radiology Information Systems across 81 hospital trusts in Great Britain.
- Included all patients under 22 years of age who underwent CT examinations between 1993 and 2002.
- Analyzed accessible radiology records for trends and patterns.
Main Results:
- The total number of CT examinations doubled during the study period (1993-2002).
- Increases in CT use were observed across all age groups, with the largest rise in 15-19 year olds.
- Head CT scans constituted 60% of examinations, with variations by year and patient age.
Conclusions:
- CT utilization in patients under 22 years significantly increased over the decade studied.
- The rise in CT use was not associated with a corresponding increase in multiple scans per individual, unlike some previous regional findings.
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