title: Use of medical imaging procedures with ionizing radiation in children: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine population-based rates of the use of diagnostic imaging procedures with ionizing radiation in children, stratified by age and sex.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  All settings using imaging procedures with ionizing radiation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals younger than 18 years, alive, and continuously enrolled in UnitedHealthcare between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007, in 5 large US health care markets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number and type of diagnostic imaging procedures using ionizing radiation in children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 355 088 children were identified; 436 711 imaging procedures using ionizing radiation were performed in 150 930 patients (42.5%). The highest rates of use were in children older than 10 years, with frequent use in infants younger than 2 years as well. Plain radiography accounted for 84.7% of imaging procedures performed. Computed tomographic scans-associated with substantially higher doses of radiation-were commonly used, accounting for 11.9% of all procedures during the study period. Overall, 7.9% of children received at least 1 computed tomographic scan and 3.5% received 2 or more, with computed tomographic scans of the head being the most frequent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to ionizing radiation from medical diagnostic imaging procedures may occur frequently among children. Efforts to optimize and ensure appropriate use of these procedures in the pediatric population should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Michigan Health Systems, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. adamdorf@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dorfman
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fazel
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Einstein
authors.forename: Kimberly E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Applegate
authors.forename: Harlan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Krumholz
authors.forename: Yongfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: Jersey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Brahmajee K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Nallamothu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D011859:Radiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States