title: The value of diagnostic medical imaging.
abstract: Diagnostic medical imaging has clear clinical utility, but it also imposes significant costs on the health care system. This commentary reviews the factors that drive the cost of medical imaging, discusses current interventions, and suggests possible future courses of action.
authors.affiliation: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Durham, NC, USA. don.bradley@bcbsnc.com.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Kendall E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bradley
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009657:North Carolina; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data