The Danger of Too Many Tests

By Dr. Ranit Mishori

If you’re like most Americans, your health bills are soaring. One reason is the “diagnostic imaging” industry, which includes X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs—the tests that let doctors “see” our bones, blood vessels, nerves, muscles, and organs. According to the American College of Radiology, imaging is one of the fastest-growing services in medicine, with costs reaching approximately $100 billion annually.

The detail revealed by these tests can be astounding, the information lifesaving. But are we overdoing it? Are all those tests really necessary? And is harm potentially being done?

Some researchers worry about overexposure to radiation. While noting that many lives are saved by imaging, Dr. David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, estimates that “1% to 2% more cases of cancer may result from the increased use of imaging in the future.” Of special concern: Some 5 million CT scans are performed annually on children, who are 10 times more sensitive to radiation than adults.

source: Parade