Document Detail


Results of computed tomography in family practitioners' patients with non-acute abdominal pain.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15964875     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: The utility of abdominal computerized tomography (CT) for evaluating abdominal pain in non-emergency, primary care outpatients is unknown. Family practice patients commonly report abdominal pain. METHODS: We reviewed the records of health maintenance organization primary care outpatients <2 years after they had undergone CT for abdominal pain and assessed demographic variables, clinical and laboratory data, CT findings and final diagnoses. RESULTS: We studied 137 patients: age 58.1 +/- 16.1 years (mean +/- SD), 80 (58.4%) females. Fifty (36.5%) patients had > or =1 warning clinical or laboratory feature. Positive (etiologic) and negative CT reports and unrelated and multiple CT findings occurred in 16 (11.7%), 104 (75.9%), 16 (11.7%) and 1 (0.7%) patients, respectively. Positive findings occurred in 16 (32.0%) patients with > or =1 warning feature and 1 (1.2%) patient (including the 1 patient with multiple findings) with no warning feature (P < 0.0001). One (6.3%) unrelated finding led to treatment, ovariectomy for a benign tumor. Fifty-four (39.4%) patients had a final diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of outpatients who had CT for abdominal pain received no diagnosis, and CT was rarely diagnostic for patients lacking a warning feature. Positive and unrelated CT findings were equally prevalent, and the latter were not beneficial.
Authors:
Sonali S Master; George F Longstreth; Amy L Liu
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2005-06-17
Journal Detail:
Title:  Family practice     Volume:  22     ISSN:  0263-2136     ISO Abbreviation:  Fam Pract     Publication Date:  2005 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-09-12     Completed Date:  2005-12-23     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8500875     Medline TA:  Fam Pract     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  474-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Plan, San Diego, California 92120, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Abdominal Pain / etiology,  radiography*
Aged
Family Practice
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Predictive Value of Tests
Retrospective Studies
Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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