Screening tests are generally requested by patients themselves, or at the recommendation of a physician. Depending on the test, they may or may not be covered by your insurance plan. They are not intended to replace routine visits to your physician, but rather to potentially provide information for additional healthcare or lifestyle decisions, and perhaps peace of mind.
Adults over 40 who have no symptoms, but do have one or more of the classic high risk factors for a particular disease are the best candidates for screening tests. Some of those classic risk factors for a number of disease states include: smoking, family history of a particular disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or obesity.
Calcium Scoring
Calcium Scoring is a brief, painless screening test using a high speed CT scanner that can help to evaluate your risk of heart attack. Special software lets us analyze the CT results and determine the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries. By evaluating and measuring the calcium build up in your coronary arteries, you can have an early warning of the arthrosclerosis (plaque build up) in your coronary artery. The procedure requires no injections, treadmills or other preparation. The results will be sent to you and your primary care physician for further consultation.
Heart CTA
Coronary Angiography allows the arteries of the heart to be viewed in three dimensions in a variety of projections. Angiography reveals the status of the left and right coronary arteries and their branches, which supply blood and nutrients to the cells of the heart.
Lung CT screening
More effective than a standard X-ray, a Lung CT scan can save your life. This scan is the most advanced screening tool available for the early detection of lung cancer and diseases like emphysema. This screening can detect lung cancer at its earliest stages, when treatment has a much higher rate of success. Screening Lung CT is one of the best screening tests available to find lung cancer. Screening lung CT visualizes other structures of the chest as well, and can help diagnose cysts, enlarged lymph nodes, hiatal hernias, and aortic aneurysms, among other things.
Virtual Colonoscopy
Colon cancer is the second most deadly cancer in America, but it is highly preventable if detected early. Unfortunately, the discomfort of traditional colonoscopy is a deterrent to regular screening. Virtual Colonoscopy is the latest technological advance in CT scanning and allows excellent images of the colon without the risks and inconvenience of anesthesia. It combines a CT scan with virtual reality software look inside the colon to see polyps or other growths. After a one-day bowel cleansing prep the evening before, the colon is slowly and gently filled with air by way of an enema tip. About 70 images are obtained in one or two breath holds while the patient is lying on their back, and repeated with the patient turned over to their stomach position. The total procedure time is less than 30 minutes and the patient can return to usual activity.
A special colonoscopy computer program produces 2D and 3D pictures of the inside of the colon, for our Radiologists to review. This new test has been shown to be almost as accurate and sensitive as conventional flexible colonoscopy and is becoming very popular. In some cases the Virtual Colonoscopy will demonstrate parts of the colon that the conventional colonoscopy cannot reach. The possible findings on colonoscopy are polyps, diverticula and tumors. Most patients report that the Virtual Colonoscopy technique is more comfortable than either Barium Enema or Conventional Colonoscopy.
Whole Body CT or CAT scan
Whole Body CT screening is an effective early detection method for the screening of many major diseases, including heart disease and cancer. It is a painless, non-invasive procedure that takes about 10 to 15 minutes to perform. The Whole Body Scan looks at all of the internal organs from the neck (thyroid) to the hips (pelvis). It can help to detect cancer, aneurysms, arthritis, gallstones, and kidney stones among many other common ailments. It also includes an examination of the heart and coronary arteries for plaque, and a calcium score. A Whole Body scan also includes a Heart and Lung scan.
Our Board Certified Radiologists will review your scan and provide results to you and your primary care physician within a week of the exam.
