Dr David McGrath
Spine Physician
MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMMMaster of Pain Medicine
Victim of Modern Imaging Technology
This expression was first used in 2003 by Richad Hayward. He was
expressing the concern that people were receiving unecessary
interventions based upon imaging findings.There is another expression
conveying a similar meaning. BARF= "Brainless Application of
Radiological Findings".
There is no doubt that modern CT and MRI scanners have added to our
appreciation of structural pathology. Some imaging techniques,such as
ultrasound, can also give dynamic information as well.
So what's the problem?
The issue lies in the interpretation and potentially invalid
interventions based upon these findings. Doctors must strive to grasp
the relevence of observations through carefully acquired knowledge.
There are two main traps.
1.The reporting of findings can be wrong. The agreement between
radiolgists may differ considerably,or worse they agree but suffer from
the same bias. In other words reports are opinions not god given truth.
2.In the musculoskeltal area, the correlation between painful disability and imaging findings is low.
Which means,action based upon such data is likely to be invalid.
Without going into the maths, here's the bottom line.
You have "blah blah condition " may be incorrect AND even if you have "blah blah" it may have nothing to do with your problem.
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©Copyright 2007 Dr David McGrath. All rights reserved