Comments on: Risks of cardiac CT scanning http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/07/risks-of-cardiac-ct-scanning.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2007/07/risks-of-cardiac-ct-scanning.html/comment-page-1#comment-77854 Anonymous Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:01:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2007/07/risks-of-cardiac-ct-scanning.html#comment-77854 I share your kudos to wsj for publishing this study and agree that not enough emphasis is placed on risks related to diagnostic tests. Unfortunately the first response to the article was one, saying in less kind terms, that it is not important to share this information with the public.<br/><br/>How can our patients work with us and make educated informed choices if they are unaware of risks as well as benefits? <br/><br/>For example, many people have come to expect a chest x-ray if they present to their doctor with a cough. It was recently shown that girls who carry a certain genetic predisposition to breast cancer are more than four times more likely to develop breast cancer in the future if they have chest x-rays before the age of 20 (Andrieu, 2006). Since most 10 year olds have not had genetic testing for breast cancer, we need to make sure those x-rays performed are truly necessary. I am sure a parent, being aware of a small but potential risk, would be more comfortable accepting the results of a careful clinical exam and close follow-up in liu of an initial x-ray than one who is not.<br/><br/>In med school we were told that the majority of conditions could be diagnosed with a careful history and physical exam. I don't think that has changed.<br/><br/>Lynne Eldridge MD<br/>Author, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time"<br/>http://www.avoidcancernow.com I share your kudos to wsj for publishing this study and agree that not enough emphasis is placed on risks related to diagnostic tests. Unfortunately the first response to the article was one, saying in less kind terms, that it is not important to share this information with the public.

How can our patients work with us and make educated informed choices if they are unaware of risks as well as benefits?

For example, many people have come to expect a chest x-ray if they present to their doctor with a cough. It was recently shown that girls who carry a certain genetic predisposition to breast cancer are more than four times more likely to develop breast cancer in the future if they have chest x-rays before the age of 20 (Andrieu, 2006). Since most 10 year olds have not had genetic testing for breast cancer, we need to make sure those x-rays performed are truly necessary. I am sure a parent, being aware of a small but potential risk, would be more comfortable accepting the results of a careful clinical exam and close follow-up in liu of an initial x-ray than one who is not.

In med school we were told that the majority of conditions could be diagnosed with a careful history and physical exam. I don’t think that has changed.

Lynne Eldridge MD
Author, “Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time”
http://www.avoidcancernow.com

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