The frequency of using musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK US) outside of radiology has increased by 53 percent from 2003 to 2015, according to a recent study in the Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR).
According to the study, MSK ultrasounds increased from more than 96,000 in 2003 to more than 429,000 in 2015, an increase of 347 percent. Nonradiologists are now performing a majority of all US exams, according to RadiologyBusiness. Additionally, researchers found that most growth occurred between 2003 and 2007, according to the article, and radiologists maintained 93 percent of MRI share in 2015.
“Growth in MRI may have been suppressed by the activities of the radiology benefits management companies, which tend to limit MRI use but not that of ultrasound,” said lead author Riti Kanesathasan, MD, of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, in regards to spurred the rise in popularity. “The data does not provide evidence that ultrasound is substituting for MRI in large enough numbers to decrease overall MRI volume, although one would hope that at least some substitution is occurring from the cost containment perspective.”
See the full article at RadiologyBusiness below:
A recent graduate from Dominican University (IL) with a bachelor’s in journalism, Melissa joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering all aspects of health imaging. She’s a fan of singing and playing guitar, elephants, a good cup of tea, and her golden retriever Cooper.