WELLNESS CONNECTION · Medical

Extraneous Radiation

By Terry Schaack, M.D., Medical Director

April 22, 2010 - 5:00PM

One of my colleagues recently went on a fact-finding visit to a nationally recognized clinic in the field of preventive and executive medicine, and he shared his experience with me as part of our internal improvement program. One of the services he believed he had done was a heart scan to check for calcium in his arteries. He was quite happy to find out that his arteries did not contain any calcium, a good indicator that he does not have plaque forming.

When I looked at the results of his physical, I saw that he had actually received a Full-Body CT Scan (a computed tomography scan from the shoulders, through the abdomen, and to the pelvis) instead of a limited heart study. I was very concerned about this. While I congratulated him on not having calcium in his arteries, I questioned him as to why he subjected himself to radiation of his entire chest, abdomen and pelvis. This includes radiation exposure to the liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines and possibly the prostate gland. Because of this unnecessary radiation exposure, he has increased his lifetime risk of cancer. According to the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University, his lifetime mortality risk of cancer is around .08% higher due to this scan.

The main reason that my colleague allowed the test is because he wanted the information and peace of mind about his heart, which seems reasonable considering that his medical history puts him at risk for heart disease. However, I can find no reason for him to have had a Full-Body CT Scan rather than a limited heart study.

Also, the Full-Body CT Scan cost slightly over $900, whereas a limited heart study generally costs around $300. I told him that next time he goes undercover at a clinic to talk to me first and call during the exam if he has questions. His days will be limited as an undercover informant if he starts glowing from all the extra radiation. We, at California Health & Longevity Institute, do not suggest Full-Body CT Scans for our clients because our philosophy is focused on preventive health. Unless it is medically justifiable for diagnosis, these scans do not fit with that concept of preventive care or with my medical Hippocratic Oath of �do no harm� because they increase the patient�s lifetime risk for cancer.

Source: Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University

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