Use of radiology in U.S. general short-term hospitals: 1980-1990.
OBJECTIVE
To determine changes in usage of radiologic services between 1980 and 1990.


METHODS
Complete data were obtained from 107 (42%) hospitals and incomplete data from eight (3%) (total survey response rate, 45%). Information was requested about the number of general radiologic examinations; specific modalities of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, nuclear medicine, and ultrasonography (US); and numbers of CT, MR imaging, and US machines.


RESULTS
The number of general radiologic examinations in hospitals increased from approximately 126 million to 179 million (> 42%); for CT, from 3.6 million to 13.3 million; nuclear medicine, from 6.4 million to 7.4 million; and US, from 4.3 million to 11.8 million. MR imaging examinations performed during 1990 were estimated at 1.8 million.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of radiologic examinations performed in U.S. hospitals increased by 30%-60% between 1980 and 1990, mainly due to increased usage of CT, MR imaging, and US.
Mettler
F A
FA
Department of Radiology, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131-5336.
Briggs
J E
JE
Carchman
R
R
Altobelli
K K
KK
Hart
B L
BL
Kelsey
C A
CA
D000573:American Hospital Association; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009684:Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology