SUMMARY
Background: CT scan is an imaging device that is widely available and is very sensitive to different causes of abdominal pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CT scan results role of patients with abdominal pain in diagnosis and future decisions on patient and comparison with patient’s history and physical examination. Methods: In this descriptive analytical study, 215 patients admitted to the emergency room at Imam Reza Teaching Hospital with non-traumatic abdominal pain were studied over the years regarding the comparison of CT findings with the history, physical examination, plain radiography and ultrasound. Demographic characteristics, patient history, symptoms at the first visit, clinical findings, laboratory tests, imaging findings, diagnosis and treatment of all patients were collected. Results: CT scan to confirm the diagnosis or screening patients with abdominal pain has been helpful. The results of 215 CT scan 28.40% was normal, most frequently diagnosis in CT scans was related to pancreatitis 24% and least diagnostic of CT scans related to ileus. Of 215 patients, plain abdominal radiography was requested in 78 patients (36.3%) that the air-fluid level was reported in 18 cases (23.7%). Of 215 patients, abdominal ultrasonography was performed in 117 patients (54.4%) that the most recognizable diagnosis was cholelitiasis in 22 cases (18.8%) an abdominal ultrasound result was normal in 98 cases (83.7%). Finally of the 215 patients, 116 patients (77.2%) admitted and 49 patients (22.7%) were discharged. Of 166 patients, 51 patients (30.72%) were transferred directly from the emergency department to the operating room. Conclusion: CT scan play a decisive role in the decision to hospitalize patients and request in right place expedite the handling patients. Our study suggests the balance between the amount of requested CT in patients with non-traumatic abdominal pain and hospitalization rate.