STAT May 25, 2023
More than 80 million CT scans are performed each year in the U.S. alone. In fact, most Americans have had a CT scan by the time they reach age 60, and many will have had several scans.
While CT scans often provide key information for diagnosing a certain problem, our current approach leaves an immense amount of information unmined. Given the cost and radiation involved in CT scanning, we have an obligation not to leave any useful data on the metaphorical cutting room floor.
Using a CT scan to look for other potential problems is called opportunistic imaging, and it could revolutionize the way we care for our patients. Taking advantage of the previously unused information will allow us to...