Reassessing medical imaging

By Daniel Lee

A growing number of people are getting CT and PET scans, multi-dimensional images that can help physicians diagnose and treat numerous conditions. The scans are painless and often life-saving.

But concerns are growing about their use. Are too many being given and are there long-term effects from radiation overexposure? How can insurance companies hold down the costs? And who will decide -- the doctor or the insurance company -- when a patient should have a scan?

In the latest move, Indianapolis-based health insurer WellPoint last month unveiled its newest business unit -- a company with a new computer program that WellPoint says is designed to educate physicians and patients about overexposure to radiation from CT (computed tomography), PET (positron emission tomography) and nuclear medicine scans.

source: Indystar.com