Dear AuntMinnie Member,
CHICAGO - Ultrasound was one of the first imaging modalities in which radiology began losing ground as cardiologists picked up the technology for use in heart imaging applications. Ironically, recent data indicate that radiology may be successfully retaining its share of ultrasound, at least in vascular imaging.
Those findings come from Dr. David Levin of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, who has made a personal crusade of tracking growth in imaging utilization among different specialties and its potential impact on healthcare costs. Dr. Levin presented his research yesterday at this week's RSNA meeting in Chicago.
Levin and colleagues analyzed Medicare data between 1998 and 2003 for 15 current procedure terminology (CPT) codes related to vascular ultrasound. The group found that while cardiologists saw their share of vascular ultrasound grow at the fastest rate, it didn't come close to the share held by radiologists.
Get the rest of the story by clicking here, or visit our our RADCast@RSNA special section, where we're also featuring articles on RSNA presentations ranging from the use of CT perfusion in hepatocellular carcinoma to mobile full-field digital mammography screening to an off-the-shelf protocol for sending digital mammography exams over the Internet.
