The accuracy of focused abdominal CT in patients presenting to the emergency department

• Focused computed tomography(CT) examination (FCT) is CT limited to a specific abdominal area in an attempt to reduce radiation exposure. We wanted to evaluate FCT on the basis of information from the request form and thus reduce radiation dose to the patient without missing relevant findings. We retrospectively analyzed 189 consecutive acute abdominal CT, dividing the findings as localized in the upper or lower abdomen. Another researcher blindly determined where the CT should be focused to, based only on information provided in the request form. The sensitivity and specificity of FCT in patients with symptoms from only upper abdomen was 100%. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FCT in patients with symptom from only lower abdomen were 79%, 100%, and 92%, respectively. Our study suggests that among patients with symptoms from the lower abdomen, not examining the upper abdomen would lead to missing relevant findings.

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