title: Economics of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Healthcare costs have exploded in the past 30 years and they are a major concern for governments worldwide. Care management of musculoskeletal disorders and advanced imaging account for a large part of this socioeconomic burden.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Musculoskeletal ultrasound is now performed primarily by nonradiologists. Both musculoskeletal ultrasound and MRI total utilization rates continue to increase. Despite the existence of evidence-based diagnostic recommendations and the potential cost-savings of using musculoskeletal ultrasound instead of MRI in certain clinical situations, ensuring appropriate use of imaging among health professionals remains difficult for various reasons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the context of healthcare budgets restraints, use of imaging must be shown scientifically, to improve patient outcomes and be cost-effective. Current evidence recommends musculoskeletal ultrasound as the primary imaging modality in the investigation of rotator cuff disease. Policies aiming at ensuring the application of imaging guidelines among physicians are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, 1058 St-Denis street, Montreal, QC H2X 3J4 Canada ; Research center, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC Canada.
authors.forename: Nathalie J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bureau
authors.affiliation: Library, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC Canada.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ziegler
keywords: Economics; Healthcare costs; Imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Musculoskeletal system; Ultrasonography