Friday, February 2, 2001
Friday, February 2, 2001 |
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CT scans available Feb. 13 Low-cost CT scans for early warning signs of cancer and coronary disease will be available at First Baptist Church of Peachtree City Tuesday, Feb. 13. Life Scan 2000, the nation's largest mobile CT screening service, has offered scans for coronary artery calcification, lung cancer and abdominal/pelvic disease since Dec. 1999. Program participants have included synagogues, churches, corporations, physicians' groups, classroom teacher associations and sheriff's departments. The CT or CAT scans are high-speed X-rays that acquire a complete series of images in thin slices. The images are reconstructed on a computer that allows the radiologist to enhance the views of the person's anatomy. Three types of CT screening exams are offered heart scans, lung scans and abdominal/pelvic scans. The heart scan looks for deposits of hard, calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. In most people, the amount of calcified plaque is proportional to the amount of dangerous "soft" plaque that may be clogging the blood flow to the heart. It adds valuable information to a person's clinical assessment of heart attack risk. The cancer scans look for early nodules, tumors and masses that are difficult to detect in a routine physical exam. The screening studies are intended for individuals who have never been treated for heart disease or cancer and have no significant symptoms of disease. One or more risk factors such as cigarette smoking, overweight, or a family history of heart attacks or cancer must be present. Age restrictions apply as well. The Life Scan 2000 mobile CT scanner is identical to those found in hospitals, but no injection of iodine is used. The scans are performed by registered CT technologists and interpreted by a board-certified radiologist. The scanning procedure is completely painless and does not require the removal of clothing. Confidential reports with CT images are sent to the individual in 2-3 weeks. Abnormal results are copied to the person's primary care physician. "I have yet to meet anyone who came in for a CT screening exam and was unhappy about having to undergo follow-up testing of any sort," said Gina Johnson of Life Scan 2000. "Most physicians are very supportive of our program. They know better than anyone, the best chance we have of beating heart disease or cancer is to find it early." The Life Scan 2000 mobile CT scanner will be at First Baptist Church, 208 Willowbend Drive, in Peachtree City Feb. 13. The fee is $195 per test. If all three CT scans are taken together, there is a $50 discount applied to the third test for a total fee of $535. A comparable CT diagnostic study, if performed in a hospital setting, would cost between $300 and $500 per test. Call 1-877-828-7475 to schedule an appointment or receive further information.
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