Whole-Body CT scans worry FDA

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Whole-Body CT scans at 'Boutique Clinics' worry FDA

The Food and Drug Administration is concerned about

the popularity of whole-body computed tomography (CT),

which is rapidly becoming available via 'boutique

clinics'. These whole-body scans are not used to

diagnosis a disease, but for routine health screening.

The scans cost between $300 and $500.

The agency is concerned that the screening, which uses

far more radiation that more limited scans, may be

exposing patients to potentially harmful levels of

radiation. " It's an open free-for-all in many

communities, " said Dr. F. Cardella, head of the

radiology department at the State University of New

York Upstate Medical University.

The average whole-body CT scan exposes the patient to

0.2 to 2.0 rads of radiation, depending upon the

patient's size. Research on persons exposed to the

atomic bomb blasts in Japan in WWII showed an increase

risk of cancer to lifetime cumulative exposures of 5

to 20 rads.

See the full article at:

http://www.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/05/05.18/20010517rglt013.html

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