Representation and Utilization of Laboratory Data in CT-Based Acute Abdominal Emergency Radiology: A Methodological Content Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Acute abdominal emergencies represent a major diagnostic challenge in emergency medicine, requiring rapid and accurate integration of clinical, laboratory, and imaging data. Although laboratory parameters play a central role in real-world diagnostic workflows, the extent to which they are systematically represented and integrated within radiology research publications remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate how laboratory data are represented, contextualized, and functionally utilized in radiology publications focusing on computed tomography (CT)-based evaluation of acute abdominal emergencies.

METHODS

A methodological content analysis was conducted on 72 original radiology research articles published between 2020 and 2024. Eligible studies focused on CT-based imaging of acute abdominal emergency conditions. Publications were screened and analyzed at the title and abstract level using a predefined coding framework to assess the presence of laboratory data, types of laboratory parameters reported, their contextual role (background information, imaging trigger, diagnostic modifier, or prognostic indicator), degree of laboratory-imaging integration, and presence of decision-oriented reporting. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize reporting patterns.

RESULTS

Laboratory data were reported in 61.1% of all included studies (n = 44/72). However, their functional utilization varied substantially. Laboratory parameters were most frequently presented as background clinical information, whereas explicit use as imaging triggers (26.4%, n = 19/72), diagnostic modifiers (19.4%, n = 14/72), or components of explicit laboratory-imaging integration (15.3%, n = 11/72) was less common. Decision-oriented reporting was present in 23.6% of all studies (n = 17/72). Explicit integration was described in publications addressing diagnostically complex and time-sensitive conditions, such as acute bowel ischemia and severe acute pancreatitis.

CONCLUSION

Laboratory data are commonly reported in CT-based radiology publications addressing acute abdominal emergencies; however, the manner in which these data are incorporated into imaging-centered diagnostic narratives varies across studies. Differences are observed in how laboratory-imaging relationships are described, with some publications presenting integrated discussion and others reporting imaging findings independently of laboratory context. These observations characterize reporting practices within the analyzed literature and do not imply statistical associations or causal effects.