Antinuclear

Good news on minimising medical radiation for Australian children

The government’s decision to allow GPs to order MRI scans could prove lifesaving for children with cancers who would otherwise lose time waiting for a specialist appointment

GPs get the go-ahead to order less risky scans, Sydney Morning Herald, Amy Corderoy, May 17, 2011  THE federal government will allow GPs to order magnetic resonance imaging scans to stop patients being sent for riskier and less sensitive imaging such as computed tomography scans.

New research shows the number of children undergoing CT scans has grown by 5.1 per cent a year over the past 20 years.

The government’s decision to allow GPs to order MRI scans could prove lifesaving for children with cancers who would otherwise lose time waiting for a specialist appointment, said the head of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Matthew Andrews…….

Dr Andrews said MRI was the first imaging choice for many conditions because it gave sensitive pictures that were more useful for diagnosis and unlike CT scans, it did not give out ionising radiation.

Radiation from diagnostic imaging is linked to more than 400 cases of cancer a year in Australia, research shows. “Because of the [lack of] Medicare rebate some people are having CT scans when MRI would be the first line test,” Dr Andrews said.

“Patients also have to see a specialist specifically so they can then get referred for an MRI.”

Australia lagged behind other developed countries when it came to offering MRIs, he said…….

Children will be able to receive GP-referred scans from November 2012. Adults will be included in the scheme one year later.

The government has granted Medicare licences for more than 60 MRI machines to make access to the technology easier and increased the bulk-billing incentive for private practices…….

CT imaging of children has increased by 5.1 per cent a year over the past 20 years, a study in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology found.

And while the population only increased by 1.4 per cent a year, the growth in CT imaging from 1994 was 8.5 per cent a year…..

GPs, doctors get go-ahead to order less risky scans for patients

May 17, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, health