Trends and patterns in the use of computed tomography in children and young adults in Catalonia - results from the EPI-CT study.
BACKGROUND
Although there are undeniable diagnostic benefits of CT scanning, its increasing use in paediatric radiology has become a topic of concern regarding patient radioprotection.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the rate of CT scanning in Catalonia, Spain, among patients younger than 21 years old at the scan time.


METHODS
This is a sub-study of a larger international cohort study (EPI-CT, the International pediatric CT scan study). Data were retrieved from the radiological information systems (RIS) of eight hospitals in Catalonia since the implementation of digital registration (between 1991 and 2010) until 2013.


RESULTS
The absolute number of CT scans annually increased 4.5% between 1991 and 2013, which was less accentuated when RIS was implemented in most hospitals. Because the population attending the hospitals also increased, however, the rate of scanned patients changed little (8.3 to 9.4 per 1,000 population). The proportions of patients with more than one CT and more than three CTs showed a 1.51- and 2.7-fold increase, respectively, over the 23 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Gradual increases in numbers of examinations and scanned patients were observed in Catalonia, potentially explained by new CT scanning indications and increases in the availability of scanners, the number of scans per patient and the size of the attended population.
Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. magda.boschdebasea@gmail.com.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain. magda.boschdebasea@gmail.com.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain. magda.boschdebasea@gmail.com.
Magda
M
Bosch de Basea
Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute of Child Health, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Jane A
JA
Salotti
Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Sir James Spence Institute of Child Health, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Mark S
MS
Pearce
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Jordi
J
Muchart
Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain.
Luis
L
Riera
Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.
Ignasi
I
Barber
Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge (IDI), Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain.|Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta (IDIBGI), Girona, Spain.|Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain.
Salvador
S
Pedraza
Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain.
Marina
M
Pardina
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
Antoni
A
Capdevila
Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.|Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.
Ana
A
Espinosa
Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
Elisabeth
E
Cardis
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D055815:Young Adult
Adolescents; Children; Cohort study; Computed tomography; Epidemiology; Trends