Trends in medical diagnostic radiology in France: comparison of patient age distribution between 1982 and 1988

To establish the level of provision of diagnostic radiology services, the trend of the frequency of examinations, and examples of radiation doses delivered to patients, two national surveys have been conducted in France. Statistical information (age, sex, examination type, film number, etc) was gathered for 13,000 and 10,000 patients examined in 1982 and 1988 respectively. Markedly different strategies for performing some types of X ray examination (infants' hip X ray, mammography, chest) were found. The major statistical results obtained from these two surveys are presented and compared, and comment is made on how the justification and optimisation of medical exposures is actually interpreted. (author)