Usage of diagnostic imaging procedures: a nationwide hospital study.

In 1980, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) conducted a survey of the numbers and types of diagnostic radiologic examinations performed in a sample of 81 general, short-stay, U.S. hospitals. Data include information on patient age and sex for all conventional radiographic, computed tomographic (CT), nuclear medicine, and ultrasound (US) procedures. An estimated 130.2 million conventional radiographic, 2.2 million CT, 6.4 million nuclear medicine, and 6.0 million US procedures were performed in all general, short-stay hospitals in 1980. Numbers and rates of procedures are presented by patient age and sex. Comparisons made to the last PHS radiographic survey in 1970 show an increase of 59% in the total number of radiographic procedures in hospitals, with the greatest increase occurring in patients in the age group 65 years and over.