Another member of mainstream media takes an evidence-bereft, pro-screening bias. This time, electron beam CTs for coronary artery disease, a AAA screening test for adults age 40 and above (contrast with the USPSTF recommendations), hi-res chest CT for lung cancer, and a PillCam screen for esophageal cancer are the “routine” tests recommended by Dr. Corso.
I’m ashamed to say this is an internist recommending these tests, ignoring the evidence. He’s trying the hawk his book, and as I said before, the evidence doesn’t sell.
Related posts:
- Routine screening test recommendations, and how newspapers often get it wrong
- 15 cancer screening posts you may have missed
- Nancy Snyderman: Is she aware of any evidence-based guidelines?
- Marc Siegel apparently doesn’t care about evidence-based medicine
- Will patients accept the new, evidence-based, breast cancer screening guidelines?
- A doctor who advocates no screening tests
- The media vs evidence-based medicine
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{ 2 comments }
Kevin, I know you’re busy but clearly you have not actually read Dr Corso’s book. He does not recommend widespread use of the Pill Cam and simply notes the ongoing research in Lung Scanning. (On the other hand, to say there is no evidence for the utility of Coronary Calcium Screening is really ignoring the evidence.) Dr. Corso cites the USPSTF stand on all the screenings in the book and gives them a lot of credit. He even devotes two chapters to the very real dangers of overscreening. Aggressive use of evidence-based medicine in the hands of well-informed patients is the backbone of his message and it saved my brother’s life. I think you missed it on this one. -George
I agree with George’s comments. Where did you get your information? His book stressed the USPSTF and the social, economic and cultural reasons why people weren’t meeting those recommendations. You’re right, Kevin, that he does promote EBT screening for heart disease even if USPSTF doesn’t and he devotes a lot of time explaining why. His arguements made sense to me when I read it.
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