Better communication can also help. A follow-up summit the American Board of Radiology Foundation held earlier this month looked at the larger issue of how doctors and radiologists, and radiologists and patients, communicate with each other.

"The lack of communication between referring physicians and radiologists in particular is another big reason that images are acquired that are perhaps not necessary," Hendee said.

He said the group is looking at exploring whether novel methods of communication, such as text messaging, could help busy radiologists and referring physicians more easily hash out whether a study is appropriate.

But perhaps most of all, radiologists need to inform patients about the limitations of imaging. Patients often demand and expect to get imaging studies even for conditions where they're not really warranted - such as an MRI scan as a first resort for lower back pain - much as patients often expect antibiotics for all illnesses, even viral infections, where they’re worthless.

"I think patients need to be much more educated about the desirability of imaging procedures," Hendee said.

"Sometimes referring physicians will give in, and radiologists will give in, rather than try to convince them," he said. "Because if he tries to convince the referring physician, [the physician] has to convince the patient."

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