Demand for CT scans increases during transition from paediatric to adult care: an observational study from 2009 to 2015

OBJECTIVE: Avoiding unnecessary radiation exposure is a clinical priority in children and young adults. We aimed to explore demand for CT scans in a busy general hospital with particular interest in the period of transition from paediatric to adult medical care. METHODS: We used an observational epidemiological study based in a teaching hospital. Data were obtained on numbers and rates of CT scans from 2009 to 2015. The main outcome was age-stratified rates of receiving a CT scan. RESULTS: There were a total of 262,221 CT scans. There was a large step change in the rate of CT scans over the period of transition from paediatric to adult medical care. Individuals aged 10-15 years experienced 6.7 CT scans per 1000 clinical episodes, while those aged 19-24 years experienced 19.8 CT scans per 1000 clinical episodes (p