Diagnosis and disposition are changed when board-certified emergency physicians use CT for non-traumatic abdominal pain

Acute appendicitis in adults: Diagnostic accuracy of emergency doctors in a university hospital in Hong Kong

“…Studies showed that over 40% of emergency physicians altered the management plan for their patients with non-traumatic abdominal pain after CT imaging, and the impact of CT on hospital admission and surgical management for patients with suspected appendicitis was greatest among the four most common pre-CT diagnoses (appendicitis, abscess, diverticulitis and urinary tract stones). 11,12 However, due to concern over radiation and contrast medium, its use in female patients is limited. The accuracy rate for USG greatly varies among studies (71-97%), but previous studies showed that selective use improves the diagnostic accuracy of doctors.…”

Trends in computed tomography utilisation in the emergency department: A 5 year experience in an urban medical centre in northern Taiwan

“…14 Moreover, CT use by board certified EPs assist in clinical decision-making for nontraumatic abdominal pain as CT frequently change ED diagnosis and disposition decisions. 15 The increase in CT utilisation was observed for both trauma and nontrauma ED visits, although the increase of 65.2% in trauma patients from 2005 to 2009 far surpassed the 26.1% increase in non-trauma visits in the same period (Fig. 2).…”

“…Low‐dose CT has also become a first choice in the diagnosis of urolithiasis as ultrasound frequently fails to detect ureteral calculi . Moreover, CT use by board certified EPs assist in clinical decision‐making for non‐traumatic abdominal pain as CT frequently change ED diagnosis and disposition decisions …”

“…Under global budget policy, the overall CAGR in Taiwan was 7.2% from 2005 to 2009. This was much lower than the 15 Although CT scans offer rapid diagnostic benefits, their increasing use has raised concerns about increasing cancer risks. 11 Mathews et al demonstrated the overall cancer incidence was 24% greater for exposed than for unexposed people, following a doseresponse relation.…”

Corticosteroid use and mortality risk in patients with perforated colonic diverticular disease: a population-based cohort study

“…There were no restrictions in corticosteroid dose or treatment duration. Patients diagnosed during an emergency room visit were excluded because of the low predictive value of emergency room diagnoses; diagnostic accuracy improves with more extensive diagnostic procedures 26. The year 2005 as start of follow-up was chosen in order to provide a 1-year prediagnosis period in which exposure to corticosteroids could be assessed similarly in all patients.…”