Long term effects of the introduction of noninvasive investigations in neuroradiology. Part 2: Effects on management of individual patients.

Review of imaging investigations undergone by cohorts of in- and outpatients of a neurological hospital at 8 year intervals over a 25 year period showed that while the pattern of investigation of the individual patient was little affected by the introduction of radionuclide studies, the subsequent availability of computed tomography had a rapid and cumulative effect on the use not only of invasive investigations, but also of plain films and other noninvasive examinations.