Common objects ‘can make medical scans less costly’

Fish-shaped soy sauce containers and jelly baby lollies can be used as visible body markers to reduce the costs of medical imaging scans, a study by Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane has found.

The items are placed on a patient’s skin to pinpoint areas being scanned and are cheaper than commercial single-use MRI markers, which can cost up to $10 each.

Paige Little, a senior scientist with the QUT biomechanics and spine research group, said scans could be frightening for children and that using familiar objects as body markers could make the medical process less intimidating.