One of the latest medical craze that is popping up all over the country is- full-body scans. The promoters promise peace of mind to the worried, and you don’t even need a physician’s referral.
Neither the FDA nor the American College of Radiology endorses the full-body tests. The main concern centers on the lack of data showing the effectiveness of the scans, the risk for patients when follow-up exams chase false-positives, and the radiation exposure.
The radiation from one body scan alone is equal to about 150 chest X-rays.
The scans can also generate unnecessary concern over abnormalities with little medical significance, leading to expensive and anxiety-provoking follow-up testing.
Unless it is indicated, I strongly recommend to my patients that they avoid this scam.
Terry Pfau DO, HMD