Cost/benefit of high technology in diagnostic radiology
Göthlin, J.H.
European Journal of Radiology 7(3): 157-159
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0720-048X PMID: 3115778 Document Number: 300281
High technology is frequently blamed as a main cause for the last decade's disproportionate rise in health expenditure. Total costs for all large diagnostic and therapeutic appliances are typically less than 1% of annual expenditure on health care. CT, DSA, MRI, interventional radiology, ESWL, US, mammography, computers in radiology and PACS may save 10-80% of total cost for diagnosis and treatment of disease. Expenditure on high technology is in general vastly overestimated. Because of its medical utility, a slower deployment cannot be desirable.