Orme and associates,1 in their study titled "Incidental Findings in Imaging Research," concluded that evaluation of incidental findings in imaging research resulted in medical benefits to a small number of patients. I offer another point of view, namely, no medical benefit but negative consequences.2 In many instances, expensive and occasionally dangerous investigations are pursued. Brain magnetic resonance imaging screening of asymptomatic patients regardless of age, health, or medical history is an example of an ineffective screening program that could produce many inconsequential findings. Valuable screening must either address a highly prevalent disease or are applied to high-risk individuals and must uncover a treatable disease.
展开▼