Can a Full Body Scan (CT/CAT Scan) Save Your Life

In 2002 Robert Baird walked into a health imaging center in Salt Lake City, Utah, because of a minor concern about a family history of heart disease and he left minutes later with lifesaving information regarding non-symptomatic problems he was unaware of and had never considered.  "Two surgeries later," Baird exclaims, "I have a new lease on life." 

The two most common causes of death in the United States are cardiovascular disease and cancer, accounting for nearly three out of every four deaths in America.  Every 30 seconds an American dies of heart disease while one out of two men and one out of three women will develop cancer, taking a life every 90 seconds.

In less than 15 minutes a computed axial tomography (CT or CAT) "full body scan" will screen for the presence of heart disease, various cancers, and other abnormalities.  The body CT scan, the most comprehensive screening procedure available anywhere, looks at the heart and lungs and examines the abdomen for life-threatening diseases such as cancer of the major organs, lymphoma and aneurysms.  It can also detect benign conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney stones and gall stones.   The full body scan may be helpful for those with higher medical risks, such as a family history of cancer or heart disease, current and former smokers, high cholesterol, and anyone with diabetes or high blood pressure.

According to the American Cancer Society most people with lung cancer have no symptoms whatsoever.  Currently only 15% of all lung cancers are detected in their early stages.  And according to the American Heart Association the first and only warning for most stroke and heart attack victims is the actual onset of a life-threatening crisis. Last year over 650,000 American Adults died of heart disease, and nearly half of those were sudden, undiagnosed deaths.

According to Dr. Wendell A. Gibby, MD, Director of Riverwoods Imaging and Interventional Center in Provo, Utah, and Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, the full body CT scan provides critical data in identifying abnormalities and diseases in their early stages.  "Numerous studies have indicated that early detection of a number of diseases may significantly increase the likelihood of recovery."

The body scan is a simple, fast, and painless procedure.  An individual simply lies on a scanner table while high speed 3D images are taken. A radiologist then interprets the scan results to determine if there are any visible abnormalities.

The full body scan looks at the heart and lungs, the abdomen, including the thoracic and abdominal aorta, spleen, adrenal glands, lymph nodes, certain pelvic organs, kidneys, spine, liver, pancreas, and the gall bladder.  The scan is designed to detect early or advanced heart disease, vascular disease, tumors of the lung, kidney, and liver, aortic aneurisms, calcified gallstones, calcified kidney stones, and various abnormalities in the abdomen and pelvic regions.  Simply stated, a full body CT scan can reveal a lot about the inside of you body and may even save your life.

A full body scan currently costs in the rage of $600 - $900, depending upon geographical location and medical specialization, and does not normally require at doctor's prescription.  For more information about the full body CT/CAT scan visit www.accuscanutah.com