HEALTH ECONOMICS IN DIAGNOSTIC-IMAGING

New technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging, are frequently c ited as major contributors to the growth of national health care expen diture, The cost-effectiveness of this modality is commonly challenged , and the lack of health economic documentation increases the level of criticism, Some common methods for evaluating imaging methods with re gard to efficacy, cost, and benefits are, therefore, reviewed, Limitat ions in the assessment of diagnostic imaging are discussed, together w ith some suggestions as to which methodological approaches may be usef ul in this field of research.