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CT scans in young people in Northern England: trends and patterns 1993-2002

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Mark PearceORCiD, Dr Jane Salotti, Wenhua Metcalf, Emeritus Professor Alan Craft, Professor Louise Parker

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Abstract

Although CT can be greatly beneficial, its relatively high radiation doses have caused public health concerns. To assess patterns in CT usage among patients aged less than 22 years in Northern England during the period 1993-2002. Electronic data were obtained from radiology information systems of all nine National Health Service trusts in the region. A total of 38,681 scans had been performed in 20,483 patients aged less than 22 years. The number of CT examinations rose, with the steepest increase between 1997 and 2000. The number of patients scanned per year increased less dramatically, with 2.24/1,000 population aged less than 22 years having one scan or more in 1993 compared to 3.54/1,000 in 2002. This reflects an increase in the median number of scans per patient, which rose from 1 in 1993 to 2 by 1999. More than 70% of CT examinations were of the head, with the number of head examinations varying with time and patient age. The frequency of CT scans in this population more than doubled during the study period. This is partly, but not wholly, explained by an increase in the number of scans per patient.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Pearce MS, Salotti JA, McHugh K, Metcalf W, Kim KP, Craft AW, Parker L, Ron E

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Pediatric Radiology

Year: 2011

Volume: 41

Issue: 7

Pages: 832-838

Print publication date: 18/05/2011

ISSN (print): 0301-0449

ISSN (electronic): 1432-1998

Publisher: Springer

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2110-7

DOI: 10.1007/s00247-011-2110-7

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