Diagnostic radiology in Norway trends in examination frequency and collective effective dose.

The objective of the present work was to determine current levels and recent nationwide trends in radiological examination frequency, as well as to update corresponding collective effective dose estimates. Examination frequencies were obtained from radiology management systems at all hospitals and private radiology enterprises across Norway in terms of number of examination codes. During the last decade, the overall examination frequency increased by 16% to 910 per 1000 inhabitants, excluding nuclear imaging and dental radiology.