Everyone's a radiologist now

doi:10.1136/bmj.39560.444468.AD

BMJ 2008;336:1041-1043 (10 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39560.444468.AD

Feature

Medical Imaging

Everyone’s a radiologist now

Jacqui Wise, freelance journalist

¹ London

Jacquiyoung1@gmail.com

Are ultrasound machines truly the stethoscope of the 21st century?Should all doctors keep one in their back pocket? Jacqui Wisereports on the battle over ultrasound imaging

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Ultrasound machines were once the size of washing machines andused solely by radiologists and sonographers working in radiologydepartments. But in the past 10 years they have become cheaper,smaller, and more portable—the latest models are evenpocket sized.

As a result ultrasound machines are increasingly used by non-radiologistsas part of the clinical examination or to assist in practicalprocedures such as insertion of a central line. The number ofgeneral practitioners buying their own ultrasound machines hasalso gradually increased. So is this good or bad news for patients?

Gill Markham, vice president of the Royal College of Radiologists,says: "The price of an ultrasound machine has come down enormouslyto £5000-£10 000 [ ${euro}$ 6000- ${euro}$ 12 000; $10 000-$20 000]and as a result they are used much more widely. Ultrasound hasa reputation as a simple, easy test. It is easy to do but interpretingthe . . . [Full text of this article]

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