Current topics in emergency trauma care: part 1: limiting radiation exposure in trauma imaging

Increased diagnostic accuracy and widespread availability of computed tomography have enhanced initial trauma evaluation and facilitated nonoperative management of many types of injuries. However, concern that excessive radiation exposure could result in an increased lifetime cancer risk has prompted renewed evaluation of the potential risks and benefits of current diagnostic strategies. This supplement reviews best practices in diagnostic radiology for evaluation of the trauma patient and discusses approaches to optimize diagnostic assessment while limiting radiation exposure.