Utilization of computed tomography imaging in the pediatric emergency department.

Background: In recent years, there has been a movement toward more judicious use of computed tomography (CT) imaging in an attempt to limit exposure of pediatric patients to ionizing radiation. The Image Gently Alliance and like-minded movements began advocating for safe and high-quality pediatric imaging worldwide in the late 2000s.

Objective: In the context of these efforts, we evaluate CT utilization rates in the pediatric emergency department at a major academic medical center.