Intermountain Medical Imaging

Press Release 12/22/2009

Intermountain Medical Imaging and Gem State Radiology Statement on Recent Studies Regarding CT Scans and Increased Cancer Risk

Medical imaging exams have been directly linked to greater life expectancy, declines in cancer mortality rates, and are generally less expensive than the invasive procedures that they replace. However, widespread use has resulted in increased exposure for Americans.

Intermountain Medical Imaging and the radiologists from Gem State Radiology advise that no imaging exam should be performed unless there is a clear medical benefit that outweighs any associated risk. In addition, the Radiologists from Gem State Radiology support the “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) concept which utilizes the minimum level of radiation needed in an imaging exam to achieve the necessary results.

“The Board certified, fellowship trained radiologists at Gem State Radiology and Intermountain Medical Imaging understand the underlying physics of radiation and are uniquely qualified to decide on appropriate and safe imaging for our patients. Radiologists are the only specialists whose entire training is devoted to imaging and radiation safety” explains Dr. Jason Salber, fellowship trained radiologist and Medical Director for Gem State Radiology.

While imaging growth is in line with, or below that of other physician services, appropriate use of imaging can be addressed by a qualified radiologist. A radiologist is a physician who specializes in medical imaging. This requires four years of residency training and a national board certification exam. The residency training occurs after the physician has completed medical school and a year of medical internship. Additional fellowship training can then be acquired in a particular area.

Gem State Radiology follows the ACR Appropriateness Criteria ®, which assists them in prescribing the most appropriate imaging exam for more than 200 clinical conditions (particularly when an imaging exam that does not use radiation may be more appropriate for a given condition). Each patient exam is tailored specifically by the radiologist based on the history of the patient and the area of clinical concern.

“Patients should be aware that not all CT scans are tailored individually by a radiologist, and should ask their referring physicians whether this is the case before undergoing a CT scan. At Gem State Radiology and Intermountain Medical Imaging we are acutely aware of radiation safety and our radiologists work to keep radiation exposure to a minimum” states Dr Neil Davey, a fellowship trained neuroradiologist with Gem State Radiology.

What patients should know and ask their physicians:

1. Patients should keep a record of their x-ray history.

2. Ask “why do I need this exam?”

3. Ask “how will having this exam improve my health care?”

4. Ask “who is performing and reading my x-ray exam?”

5. Ask if there are alternatives that do not use radiation which are equally as good?

Helpful Resources:

Radiation Exposure Estimates from Common Imaging Procedures

www.radiologyinfo.org

Radiation Safety Section of the (American College of Radiology) ACR Web Site