Comprehensive data on 1979 and 1980 [human] diagnostic imaging procedure volume were collected from a stratified random sample of USA short-term genreal-care hospitals and private practices of radiologists, cardiologists, obstetricians/gynecologists, orthopedic surgeons and neurologists/neurosurgeons. Approximately 181 million imaging procedures (within the study scope) were performed in 1980. Despite the rapidly increasing use of newer imaging methods, plain film radiography (140.3 million procedures) and contrast studies (22.9 million procedures) continue to comprise the vast majority of diagnostic imaging volume. Ultrasound, computed tomography, nuclear medicine and speical procedures make-up < 10% of total diagnostic imaging procedures. Comparsion of these data with data from an earlier study indicates that imaging procedure volume in hospitals expanded at an annual growth rate of almost 8% from 1973-1980.