The screening studies are intended for age-appropriate individuals who have never been treated for heart disease or cancer and have no significant symptoms of disease, but have elevated risk factors such as cigarette smoking, overweight or a family history of heart attacks or cancer.

Three types of preventive CT scans are offered: heart, chest and abdomen/pelvis scans. The heart scan measures deposits of hard, calcified plaque in the coronary arteries and assigns them a numeric "score." The higher the score, the higher the likelihood of a blockage in the vessel that could lead to a heart attack. The chest and abdomen scans look for aneurysms, tumors and masses, large gallstones and kidney stones, and other conditions that are difficult to detect in a routine physical exam.

Ninety-four percent of "severe abnormal" abdomen/pelvis studies and 92 percent of "severe abnormal" chest studies were confirmed upon patient follow-up with their own physicians. Seventy-eight percent of people with heart scan calcium scores over 500 required treatment ranging from angioplasty or by-pass surgery to the prescription of medication.

The mobile CT scanners utilized by CATscan 2000 are identical to those found in hospitals. Unlike diagnostic studies, however, the screening CT scans are performed without needles or an injection of dye. The scanning procedure is safe, completely painless, takes about fifteen minutes and does not require the complete removal of clothing. Confidential reports with a select, printed set of CT images are sent to the individual in two to three weeks. Abnormal results are copied to the person's primary care physician.

"A CT scan is not a complete test for evidence of all disease in our body," said Gina Johnson, president of CATscan 2000. "It does not substitute for a physical exam, it enhances a physical exam. It gives us information that our doctors cannot routinely provide and it serves as a powerful motivator for change. Many people quit smoking the same day they saw images of black holes in their lungs and the words 'early emphysema' written by the doctor. It's the same with plaque buildup on a heart scan image. Everyone thinks, 'A heart attack won't happen to me,' until they see hard evidence. Then it's suddenly a lot easier to start doing the right things!"

The CATscan 2000 mobile CT scanner will be at First Baptist Church, 208 Willowbend Drive, March 19. The fee is $199 for a heart scan and $209 for a chest or abdomen/pelvis scan. If all three CT scans are taken together, there is a $30 discount applied for a total fee of $587. A comparable CT diagnostic study, if performed in a hospital setting, would cost $800 - $1,000 per test. Osteoporosis screening isn ow being offered for $35. Call toll free, 1-877-828-7475 to schedule an appointment or receive further information.