Some Patients Opt For Body Scans As Preventative Measure
Scans Take Detailed Look Inside Body Without Scalpel
POSTED: 2:01 pm EST March 3, 2010
UPDATED: 7:25 pm EST March 3, 2010
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PITTSBURGH -- More and more baby boomers are taking preventative health care to a new level.In an attempt to live longer and stay more active, they're getting medical tests before they're ordered by doctors.
One of the newest methods of testing is the full-body scan.While insurance doesn't cover the procedure, those who've chosen the scan tell Channel 4 Action News the peace of mind is worth every penny.Marshall Marraccini is 56 and in good health. He exercises often, but his mother had heart disease and that is always in the back of his mind."It's hard because I work out almost every day, trying to make sure I'm OK, and still you don't know it's the hand you're dealt," said.Marraccini hopes a full-body scan will show him what's going on with his heart and other vital organs.West Mifflin Imaging offers the procedure, and the staff said they are seeing more people come in for scans, even though they have no symptoms."The patients where the doctors say, 'You know what? You're asymptomatic; we really don't think you're going to need this yet and your insurance won't cover it because I don't have a reason to send you.' But yet they still want to know because of their family histories," said Ray Comunale of West Mifflin Imaging.The full-body scan costs $1,200 at West Mifflin Imaging. For a scan of just the heart and chest, the price is $700.The scans allow doctors to look inside organs and vessels and using the results, doctors can see:- Any type of organ or bone cancer
- Heart plaque
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Kidney disease
- Appendicitis
- Stomach ulcers
- Hernias
- Joint disease
- Spine problemsOther conditions are also visible. But some are concerned with the possibly unnecessary radiation patients are exposed to with a scan.Technicians at West Mifflin said the machine regulates the radiation so it uses the least amount needed.Those who are worried they have a problem the doctors don't catch said the possible radiation risk is worth it, especially with all the machine can do."We can take that vessel and we can open it up we can fillet it open, meaning we can cut it in half just with digital imaging and look inside," said Eric Ludwick, a CT MRI radiographer.The machine can also do a virtual colonoscopy, a more pleasant option for baby boomers concerned about the idea of a camera going through their colon."I have adverse reactions to anesthesia so this is much easier for me," said patient Linda Mamie."We have a 3D imaging machine over here and we're able to see the colon in a 3D image. And our doctor is able to go through the colon to see what's going on, if there are any polyps. The same as you would see in a colonoscopy," said technician Laurie Marraccini.With a virtual colonoscopy, there's no need for anesthetic. The procedure can be done on someone's lunch hour and then the patient can return to work.The virtual colonoscopy costs $400.Many medical experts say the virtual colonoscopy is just as effective as the regular kind. However, one advantage of having a regular colonoscopy is that if polyps are found, they can be removed immediately. The virtual colonoscopy can't do that, so patients would need a second procedure.
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- Heart plaque
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Kidney disease
- Appendicitis
- Stomach ulcers
- Hernias
- Joint disease
- Spine problemsOther conditions are also visible. But some are concerned with the possibly unnecessary radiation patients are exposed to with a scan.Technicians at West Mifflin said the machine regulates the radiation so it uses the least amount needed.Those who are worried they have a problem the doctors don't catch said the possible radiation risk is worth it, especially with all the machine can do."We can take that vessel and we can open it up we can fillet it open, meaning we can cut it in half just with digital imaging and look inside," said Eric Ludwick, a CT MRI radiographer.The machine can also do a virtual colonoscopy, a more pleasant option for baby boomers concerned about the idea of a camera going through their colon."I have adverse reactions to anesthesia so this is much easier for me," said patient Linda Mamie."We have a 3D imaging machine over here and we're able to see the colon in a 3D image. And our doctor is able to go through the colon to see what's going on, if there are any polyps. The same as you would see in a colonoscopy," said technician Laurie Marraccini.With a virtual colonoscopy, there's no need for anesthetic. The procedure can be done on someone's lunch hour and then the patient can return to work.The virtual colonoscopy costs $400.Many medical experts say the virtual colonoscopy is just as effective as the regular kind. However, one advantage of having a regular colonoscopy is that if polyps are found, they can be removed immediately. The virtual colonoscopy can't do that, so patients would need a second procedure.
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