Frequency of repeat examinations in the sonographic section of a radiological university department.

Purpose: What is the percentage of repeat examinations in the ultrasonograp hic section of a radiological university department? Methods: All 4116 pati ents, who were first examined in the sonographic section of the Radiologic Department of the University of Cologne from 5/97 to 5/98, were asked by th e medical staff, whether, how often and by whom ultrasonographic, CT or MR examinations of the same organ system had been carried out during the last 4 weeks without evidence of clinical changes. The data were documented usin g a structured questionnaire. Results: Sonographic repeated examinations do cumented in 443 (10,8%) of the 4116 consultations. The proportion of in- to outpatients with repeat examinations was 26,0 % to 74,0 %. Contrarily, the repeated ultrasonographies were done by practioners in 62,3% and by the un iversity staff in 33,2% (radiology 48,2%). With regard to the 4116 consulta tions, the abdomen (81,1%) was the organ system most often examined repeate dly. Computed tomographies were already done or planned in 305 of 4116 pati ents (7,4%) and MR-tomographies were already done or planned in 57 patients (1,4%). Conclusion: The rate of repeated ultrasonographic examinations in a radiological university hospital was 19,6%.