Changes in the Computed Tomography Patient Population

An inexorable rise in the demand for computed tomography (CT) scanning has occurred in recent years because of improved diagnostic accuracy, increased medical reliance on diagnostic testing, patient expectation and medicolegal concerns. Computed tomography has outperformed other imaging modalities, accounting for 4.9% of all UK radiological investigations in 1996/1997, rising to 8.6% in 2003/2004. With the increasing number of CT applications, this figure is predicted to rise further. A major demographic factor influencing all health-care provision is the ageing population. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the number of people over the age of 60 will double between the years 2000 and 2020. The relationship between life expectancy and health expectancy is also a factor. The UK population has seen an increasing life expectancy, but the extra years have not necessarily been years of good health. In 1981, the expected time lived in poor health was 6.5 years for British males and 10.1 years for females, rising to 8.7 and 11.6 years, respectively, in 2001. It is therefore likely that the incidence of diseases associated with ageing will increase. Health-care systems worldwide will have to cope with these extra demands and accommodate the rapid progress in medical technology. Diagnostic imaging will share these challenges. There are major health benefits to be gained from the increasing use of CT as a diagnostic tool, but the potential limitations of increased radiation exposure and the risks associated with contrast agents need to be considered in the overall risk/benefit equation.