Towards the appropriate use of diagnostic imaging

Unnecessary examinations expose patients to risk without benefit and are a threat to the effective allocation of resources

Things aren’t as they used to be. Imaging investigations are replacing the old paradigm of history-taking, physical examination and provisional clinical diagnosis.1 We may blame intellectual laziness, but short consultation times in general practice, fear of litigation, and the expectations of patients all contribute to the burgeoning use of medical imaging. Unfortunately, a lack of understanding of the role of imaging in specific clinical situations leads to unnecessary imaging or imaging that is inappropriate in terms of timing or the choice of modality.