CT screening--whole-body and targeted.
At present, the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine does not support the practice of self-referred whole-body CT screening of asymptomatic patients because: The procedure involves a non-trivial radiation dose, which assumes even greater significance in the context of an ongoing screening programme; There is a high likelihood of false positives requiring further intervention with its attendant risks; and There is no proven evidence to date that early detection of life-threatening disease by CT has a significant positive effect on patient outcome. The ACPSEM will continue to monitor scientific studies concerning this procedure.
Le Heron
J C
JC
National Radiation Laboratory, Christchurch, New Zealand. john_le_heron@nrl.moh.govt.nz
Coakley
K S
KS
D026683:Advisory Committees; D001315:Australia; D018584:Physician Self-Referral; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012952:Societies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D014915:Whole-Body Counting / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards