Full-body Scams, er a ... Scans

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Full-body Scams, er a ... Scans

By Stephen Bucaro

Full-body CT (Computer Tomography) scanners are appearing
in strip malls and office centers all over the country.
Many doctors are recommending a full-body CT scan (follow
the kick-back money). The sales pitch; "A full-body scan
can find disease early when it is more treatable." The
scans cost between $600.00 and $3,000.00 and are not
covered by Medicare or health insurance plans when no
symptoms exist.

The scam is most profitable when perpetrated against
individuals over 50 years of age. Scans of individuals in
this age group often show scars from long ago healed cysts
and benign spots on the kidney, liver, or pancreas.
Doctors and hospitals can use these meaningless
irregularities to generate thousands of dollars in
unnecessary tests. False positive test results can
generate profits from biopsies and invasive surgeries.

CT scans provide the most profitable but the poorest
quality of medical imaging. Contrast agents can be used to
make CT scans more accurate, but the fast-buck consumer
imaging centers don't use contrast agents. Ultrasound and
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans provide much
sharper images, but a lower profit margin. The result is,
the CT scan might give you the false security of perfect
health when a killer disease exists.

The American Cancer Society, the FDA (Food and Drug
Administration) and the American College of Radiology do
not recommend full-body CT scans. The American Cancer
Society says, "x-ray radiation has a cumulative effect.
You should not get unnecessary x-rays." If you have no
symptoms but still feel that you need to get a full-body
CT scan, you might try seeing a psychiatrist about a
condition called hypochondriasis.
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