Nuclear medicine and other radiologic imaging techniques: competitors or collaborators?
In summary, there will continue to be competition between scintigraphy and the various other modalities used in Radiology, with Nuclear Medicine having to periodically reconfirm its value as current methods are refined and newer techniques are introduced. Compared to the revolutionary changes in radiologic imaging which have occurred over the past two decades. Nuclear Medicine and radiopharmaceutical technology have advanced at a slower, more evolutionary pace. It is essential that the nuclear medicine profession continue to provide solid data to demonstrate the validity and utility of radionuclide imaging results. We must be prepared to demonstrate to an often skeptical medical public that the "shinier" new methods in Radiology do not necessarily hold all the advantages when it comes to diagnostic evaluation of patients. There are many situations where the Nuclear Medicine procedure remains the most cost-effective and appropriate test for a particular patient evaluation, and those of us working in this field must not be shy about informing our clinical colleagues when our method has a demonstrated advantage over a competing imaging modality.
Jacobson
A F
AF
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data