Rising Use Of Diagnostic Medical Imaging In A Large Integrated Health System

• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.27.6.1491
• Publication Date: 2008-11-10T01:07:47Z
• Authors: Rebecca Smith-Bin...; Diana L. Miglioretti; Eric B. Larson
• Keywords: Cross-sectional study

Little has been published characterizing specific patterns of the dramatic rise in diagnostic imaging during past decade. In a large health plan, 377,048 patients underwent 4.9 million tests from 1997 through 2006. Cross-sectional nearly doubled over those years, rising 260 to 478 examinations per thousand enrollees year. Imaging with computed tomography (CT) doubled, and magnetic resonance (MRI) tripled. studies added existing instead replacing them, annual enrollee cost radiology more than doubled. The raises both costs radiation exposure.