To characterize changes in computed tomography (CT) utilization in the Emergency Department (ED) over a 5 year period.

CT scans ordered on adult ED patients from July 2000 to July 2005 were analyzed in 5 groups: head, cervical spine, chest, abdomen and miscellaneous. ED patient volume and triage acuity were determined.

46,553 CT scans were performed on 27,625 adult patients in the ED during the study period. During this same period 194,622 adult patients were evaluated in the ED. From 2000 to 2005, adult emergency department patient volume increased by 13% while triage acuity remained stable. During this same period head CT increased by 51%, cervical spine CT by 463% , chest CT by 226%, abdominal CT by 72% and miscellaneous CT by 132%. Although increases were generally greater for patients over age 40, the increase in those less than 40 years was also substantial. Of the 4320 individual patients who underwent chest CT, 83 (2%) had chest CT on 3 or more separate ED visits. Of 10,960 patients undergoing abdominal CT, 406 (4%) had abdominal CT on 3 or more separate ED visits.

ED CT utilization has increased at a rate far exceeding the growth in ED patient volume. This presumably reflects the improved utility of CT in diagnosing serious pathology, its increased availability and a desire on the part of physicians for diagnostic certainty. Whether this increase in utilization results in improved patient outcomes is at present unclear and deserves additional study.

CT utilization in the ED has grown dramatically in the past 5 years in both younger and older adults reflecting CT's increased utility, availability and the desire of doctors for diagnostic certainty.