MSCT scanners outpace radiologists in Japan

Eighty-four percent of the hospitals and more than 50% of the medical facilities in Japan that own multislice CT scanners have no full-time board-certified radiologist, according to a study by the Japanese College of Radiology.

The investigators highlighted the low level of MSCT penetration in Japan, a fact that clashes with the country's reputation as a technological hotbed. And even if high-performance diagnostic equipment were available, the shortage of a qualified workforce behind it would prevent Japanese patients from benefiting, they said (Nippon Acta Radiologica 2005;65[3]:294-299).

MSCT scanners represent 10% of all CT equipment currently available in Japan. In contrast, multislice scanners made up 52% of the newly installed CT base in the U.S. for the year 2001, the investigators said.