Trends of Computed Tomography Scan Usage among Adults and Children in Yazd Province, Iran, before the Outbreak of COVID-19

Abstract

Purpose: Excessive use of Computed Tomography (CT) has become a worrying issue due to the potential risks resulting from radiation exposure. This study was carried out to investigate trends in CT usage in Yazd Province, Iran. Materials and Methods: In the current study, patients were categorized according to their sex and age into two general groups, pediatrics (<18 years old) and adults (≥18 years old), each group falling into multiple subcategories. The performed CT scans were classified into six categories, based on the anatomical area of interest, including head/neck, chest, spine, abdomen-pelvis, extremities, and CT angiography (CTA). The data were collected from 2015 to 2018. Results: The mean number of CT scans increased by the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11%. Across the procedures, head/neck (with an average contribution of 52% to all CT scans) was the most frequently examined region, whereas CTA had the lowest percentage (2%). More than half of the scans are performed on people over the age of 90, and among those aged<18 years old the most CT scan rates are related to 13-18-year-olds. Conclusion: The number of CT examinations is clearly increasing in Yazd Province. Some of this increase may be warranted because of the improvements in the diagnostic power of CT. The estimated number of pediatric CT scans has risen more than past. Due to the risk of cancer, efforts should be made to reduce unnecessary CT scans.