Evidence-based diagnostic radiology.

The radiological community has a long track record of self-examination, starting well before evidence-based medicine came of age. It had to produce such evidence to prove the need for and win funds for its expensive gadgets. The assessment of new tests is easier than proving the value of well-established ones, and in scrutinising the evidence base for an imaging technique a balance must be struck between apparent (eg, diagnostic) benefit and real benefit to the patient. And even when there is a wealth of good evidence healthy debate continues. So radiology may be ahead of some other disciplines in considering the evidence for its daily practice. For example, where is the evidence for the routine clinical examination-and might the radiologist with a chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasound do better?