Table 4.
Rapidity and Modality of Imaging |
Total (100%) |
New Diagnoses of Cancer N (%) |
Hospitalizations for Back Diagnoses N (%) |
Complications or Progression of Back Pain N (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|
No imaging | 22,745 | 1,511 (7.3) | 22 (0.1) | 28 (0.2) |
Rapidity | ||||
29-180days | 1,657 | 64 (3.9)b | 69 (4.3)b | 29 (2.3)b |
Within 28 days | 9,637 | 651 (5.8)a | 288 (2.5)b | 111 (1.0)b |
Modality | ||||
Radiograph only | 7,696 | 474 (5.3)a | 65 (0.7)b | 31 (0.3)a |
CT/MRI | 3,598 | 241 (6.0)a | 292 (7.3)b | 109 (2.9) |
Unweighted counts and weighted percentages are based on analysis of claims in years 2000-2002 and 2004-2006 for 35,039 fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries treated by one of 4,567 primary care physician respondents to the Community Tracking Study Physician Survey. P-values reflect comparisons to beneficiaries who did not receive imaging.
p<0.05
p<0.001