Preventive Health Scans: Technology and Benefits
Canada Diagnostic Centres offers three focused health CT screening services to help detect the leading causes of death in the normal population. Screening exams offered include:
These exams are intended for patients > 40 years, who have no history of, and are asymptomatic for the target diseases (coronary artery disease, colon cancer, and lung cancer respectively).
Potential Risks from Screening Services
Screening CT examinations are tailored to the patient’s age and medical history. There is no evidence that these tests are effective in reducing mortality and have potential risks. Over 50% of screening tests require further tests for uncertain findings. Many are incidental and of little significance. Patients may have anxiety over these results or undergo biopsy with inherent risks. The radiation dose for individual tests is considered safe. However, a series of tests create a cumulative radiation dose. This is important, as it is possible to induce cancer from high, cumulative radiation doses. In addition, these tests may give patients a false sense of security as they are only of value for the diseases discussed. Although other major problems may be detected and new malignancies could be discovered within months after having the test.
