Study finds use of head CT scans has doubled in U.S. emergency rooms - UPI.com

Use of head CT scans in U.S. emergency departments has more than doubled over the past 15 years, a new study says.

Nearly 16 million head CT scans were ordered by ERs in 2022, up from under 8 million in 2007, researchers reported Monday in the journal Neurology.

"Head CT scans are a critical tool for diagnosing neurological emergencies, but their growing use raises concerns about cost, radiation exposure and delays in the emergency department," lead researcher Dr. Layne Dylla, an assistant professor of emergency medicine with Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, said in a news release.

CT scans are critical when responding to emergencies like strokes, but are less helpful when diagnosing problems like headaches, seizures or dizziness, researchers said.

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