The following are guidelines for handling requests or referrals of whole body CT scans administered by BWH’s Department of Radiology. For more information on the guidelines mentioned below, contact Pablo Ros, MD, MPH.
- Whole body scans will not be marketed to patients.
- The hospital will not accept whole body scans requested directly by patients. If a patient is interested, he or she has to be referred to his or her primary care physician.
- If a primary care physician requests a study, a radiologist will discuss the pros and cons of CT-based screening studies with the referring physician. In the case of whole body scans the lack of evidence regarding the benefits and possible risks would be emphasized by the BWH radiologist.
- In an exceptional circumstance, and if requested by a primary care physician after a dialogue with a radiologist, scans can be done and the report will be sent to the referring physician.
- The radiologist may suggest to the referrer that in lieu of a whole body CT scan, one or more of BWH’s existing screening protocols currently under research (colon, heart, lung) could be performed.