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Abbreviations: CT = computed tomography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging.

* Separate estimates for MRIs and CTs are available only for the period 2005–2010. During that period, visits with only an MRI accounted for <4% of the combined CT/MRI category.

From 2001 to 2010, the percentage of emergency department visits with a CT or MRI test ordered or provided nearly tripled from 6% to 17%, and the percentage of visits with an ultrasound ordered or provided doubled from 2% to 4%. The percentage of emergency department visits with a radiograph ordered or provided did not change significantly. Throughout the period, the percentage of visits with a radiograph was higher than the percentage with a CT/MRI or ultrasound combined and remained steady at about 35%.

Source: CDC. National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ahcd/ahcd_questionnaires.htm.

Reported by: Anjali Talwalkar, MD, atalwalkar@cdc.gov; Jill J. Ashman, PhD.

Alternate Text: The figure above shows the annual percentage of emergency department visits with selected imaging tests ordered or provided in the United States, during 2001-2010. From 2001 to 2010, the percentage of emergency department visits with a CT or MRI test ordered or provided nearly tripled, from 6% to 17%, and the percentage of visits with an ultrasound ordered or provided doubled from 2% to 4%. The percentage of emergency department visits with a radiograph ordered or provided did not change significantly. Throughout the period, the percentage of visits with a radiograph was higher than the percentages with an CT/MRI or ultrasound combined and remained steady at about 35%.