title: [Referral of patients with fever for ultrasound abdominal scans].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of ultrasound referrals of patients with fever and/or inflammation markers based on C-reactive protein (CRP) from the department of medicine to the department of radiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  The quality of 109 referrals was evaluated retrospectively based on sufficient anamnesis, description of objective findings, and presence of fever and/or inflammation markers and/or liver parameters. Fever was defined as a temperature above 37.5 degrees Celsius.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasound scans proved 50 positive findings and 59 were categorised normal. There was no significant difference in the referrals of registrars and other medical doctors with regard to the presence of positive scanning findings (p=0.26). No significant difference between radiologists and trained radiographers was observed with regard to the ultrasound scan result (p=0.34). In 55% of the cases the referrals contained no information on symptoms, objective findings (60%), presence of fever (26%) and CRP +/- liver parameters (36%)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quality of the referrals of patients with fever from the department of medicine to the department of radiology is not optimal. Prospective studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Vejle Sygehus, Medicinsk Afdeling. a.christensen@email.dk
authors.forename: Anne F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Ejler
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ejlersen
authors.forename: Søren R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Rafaelsen
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000032:analysis; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D002097:C-Reactive Protein