Screening Scans for Patients
Patient Preparation
You will be asked to change into a gown and asked to remove any metal objects, e.g. Hairpins, piercing, jewelry, watches, bracelets, bras, metal-based make-up or hearing aids. A locker will be provided to place your valuables in.
MRI Screening
You may eat prior to your exam, but refrain from any fluids 2-3 hours prior, as you will need to lie on the MRI table for an extended time
Prostate MRI Screening
Patients who have a history of prostate cancer or have had an inconclusive prostate biopsy do not qualify for this screening study.
Breast MRI Screening
Gadolinium based Intravenous contrast is administered. Fast for 4 hours prior to your exam.
Coronary (Cardiac) CTA
Iodine based Intravenous contrast is administered. Fast for 4 hours prior to your exam. No caffeine or nicotine.
Cardiac Calcium Scoring
No preparation needed for CT Coronary Calcium Scoring.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The procedure is completely painless. There is no radiation associated with this study. There are no known long-time risk factors with having an MRI. Many diseases, cancers, and other conditions can be detected through this study.
Contraindications to MRI
MRI machines generate strong magnetic fields. MRI safety is important and you may not be able to qualify for the MRI scan if you have the following:
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
Computed Tomography is commonly referred to as at CT scan or CAT scan. A CT scan is essentially multiple x-ray images from various angles and like x-ray utilizes ionizing radiation. The only enhanced screening study we perform utilizing a CT scan is Coronary (Cardiac) CTA and Cardiac Calcium Scoring. All other enhanced screening studies are performed utilizing MRI.
Prevention involves many different things:
Detecting disease through screening may help to facilitate early intervention, improve the quality of your life, and even save your life
Getting regular health checkups and screenings
Keeping up with medications for chronic conditions
Making healthy lifestyle adjustments: exercising, maintaining a well-balanced diet, avoiding tobacco use
Results
Results will be provided to you and your referring physician for review.
A normal enhance screening scan does not guarantee that you do not have any disease/cancer. No medical study is 100% perfect, cancer can be tiny/occult and may not detectable by imaging until it reaches a certain size.
Sometimes a enhance screening scan may detect false positives and cause anxiety, these are abnormal growths concerning for cancer which after further testing prove to be nothing worrisome.