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Number of computed tomography scanners and regional disparities based on population and medical resources in Japan

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Abstract

This study aimed to discover the associations between the number of computed tomography (CT) scanners and the population, as well as number of medical resources to identify regional disparities in Japan. The number of CT scanners was tabulated for each detector row of CT scanners for hospitals and clinics in each prefecture. The number of CT scanners, patients, medical doctors, radiological technologists, facilities, and beds per 100,000 population was compared. Additionally, the number of hospitals with ≥ 200 beds and multidetector-row CT scanners with ≥ 64 rows were tabulated, and their ratios were calculated. Medical institutions in Japan have installed 14,595 scanners. CT scanners per 100,000 population were the highest in Kochi Prefecture, although the number of CT scanners in hospitals was the highest in Tokyo Prefecture. Multivariate analysis revealed the number of radiological technologists (β coefficient: 0.49; P = 0.03), facilities (β coefficient: 0.12; P < 0.01) and beds (β coefficient: 0.46; P < 0.01) as independent factors for the number of CT scanners. Prefectures with a high proportion of hospitals with ≥ 200 beds also had a relatively high proportion of CT scanners with ≥ 64 rows (P < 0.01). Our survey revealed an association between regional disparities in the number of CT scanners in Japan, the population, and number of medical resources. A positive correlation was found between hospital size and number of CT scanners with ≥ 64 rows.

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Acknowledgements

Part of the content of this study was based on the survey results of the scientific research group of the Japanese Society of Radiological Technology (No. 0032894).

Funding

Part of this study was financially supported by a grant of JSPS KAKENHI Grant No. 22K15834.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Technology, Radiological Diagnosis, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan

    Atsushi Urikura

  2. Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, 1007 Shimonagakubo, Nagaizumi, Sunto, Shizuoka, 411-8777, Japan

    Atsushi Urikura & Tsukasa Yoshida

  3. Department of Quantum Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-0942, Japan

    Kosuke Matsubara

  4. Department of Radiological Technology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, 6-5-1 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8577, Japan

    Keiichi Nomura

  5. Department of Radiological Sciences, Morinomiya University of Medical Sciences, 1-26-16 Nanko-kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-Shi, Osaka, Japan

    Takashi Hoshino

  6. Division of Radiology, Chiba Kaihin Municipal Hospital, 3-31-1 Isobe, Mihama-ku, Chiba-Shi, Chiba, 261-0012, Japan

    Takashi Takagi

Authors
  1. Atsushi Urikura
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  2. Tsukasa Yoshida
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  3. Kosuke Matsubara
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  4. Keiichi Nomura
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  5. Takashi Hoshino
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  6. Takashi Takagi
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Correspondence to Atsushi Urikura.

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Urikura, A., Yoshida, T., Matsubara, K. et al. Number of computed tomography scanners and regional disparities based on population and medical resources in Japan. Radiol Phys Technol 16, 355–365 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-023-00725-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-023-00725-2

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