Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
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The burden of lung cancer in the United States is staggering, with more Americans dying from lung cancer than the next four most common cancers combined. With endorsement of lung cancer screening by the United States Preventive Services Task Force and reimbursement by CMS, the number screened for lung cancer with low-dose CT (LDCT) is anticipated to rise in the near future. ⋯ Among our predominately community-based sample of facilities, we found variation in lung cancer screening guideline usage, number of patients screened, and tracking methods.
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The aim of this study was to estimate the amount of CT studies performed in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital that are not indicated by Canadian CT Head Rule (CCHR) guidelines and to analyze factors that contribute to unnecessary examinations. ⋯ Overuse of CT examinations for minor head injuries was demonstrated, especially in young patients, with an excess of 37.3%. Contributing factors are referring physician specialty and injury mechanism. Analysis of overuse causes can be implemented for education programs and for computerized referring protocols.