REVIEW article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. General Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency Care
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1654551
Current Status and Solutions for the Overuse of Emergency CT in Pediatric Patients with Abdominal Pain
Provisionally accepted
- 1The third affiliated hospital of wenzhou medical university, Wenzhou, China
- 2Wenzhou People’s Hospital, Wenzhou, China
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Pediatric abdominal pain is one of the most common issues reported in emergency departments (EDs), where emergency computed tomography (CT) plays a crucial role in diagnosing various conditions. However, the frequent use of emergency CT scans in children has raised significant concerns due to the associated risks of unnecessary radiation exposure and increased healthcare costs. This review aims to explore the current situation regarding the overuse of emergency CT scans among children with abdominal pain, examining the factors that contribute to this trend and its harmful effects. It also summarizes recommended interventions and research advancements designed to tackle this issue. By thoroughly reviewing the existing literature, this article seeks to provide valuable insights for clinical practice, promoting the careful use of emergency CT and emphasizing the role of non-ionizing alternatives such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to minimize unnecessary radiation exposure and optimize the use of medical resources.
Keywords: pediatric abdominal pain, emergency CT overuse, radiation exposure risks, Defensive Medicine, Emergency departments, Guideline Adherence
Received: 11 Jul 2025; Accepted: 26 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Weng and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Yaomeng Chen, Wenzhou People’s Hospital, Wenzhou, China
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