Most people assume they're healthy until a symptom tells them otherwise. The problem is that heart disease and many cancers can stay silent for years. A CT body scan offers a way to look beneath the surface before symptoms ever start.

Here's a region-by-region breakdown of what a body scan examines and the kinds of findings it may reveal.

Key Points

• A CT body scan captures detailed images from the neck to the hips.
• It can reveal conditions people can't feel, from arterial plaque to lung nodules.
• The scan itself takes less than five minutes.
• Findings are reviewed by a radiology team, with follow-up guidance when needed.

1. Heart and Arteries

• Plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, measured as a coronary calcium score
• Early signs of heart disease before a heart attack occurs
• Structural concerns involving the heart valves and surrounding vessels

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming nearly 700,000 lives a year according to the CDC. CT is particularly well suited to imaging the heart and coronary arteries in detail. A dedicated heart scan focuses on this area alone.

2. Lungs

• Lung nodules and other abnormalities before symptoms
• Possible early-stage lung cancer, emphysema and other conditions

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women and is often diagnosed late. Imaging can reveal it while it's still small and localized, when treatment options are generally better. More is explained on the lung scan page.

3. Abdomen and Organs

• Early warning signs in the liver, pancreas, kidneys and spleen
• Cysts, tumors, stones or organ enlargement
• Abdominal aortic aneurysms, which can be life-threatening if undetected

Covering the whole core gives a broader view than a standard checkup or blood test can provide.

4. Bones and Spine

• Early signs of osteoporosis or bone density loss
• Spinal issues, fractures or degenerative changes

Musculoskeletal findings can say a lot about overall health and may help prevent more serious injury later.

Conditions That Often Develop Quietly

A CT body scan can help identify hundreds of conditions in early stages, including:

• Coronary artery disease
• Cancers of the lung, liver, kidney and colon
• Abdominal and thoracic aneurysms
• Cysts, tumors and organ abnormalities
• Bone density loss and spinal degeneration

Advanced Body Scan reports having scanned more than 100,000 patients over its two-plus decades in early detection.

What the Experience Is Like

The scan takes less than five minutes, with no needles, no prep and no changing clothes. Results are private and not shared with insurance companies, so patients decide how to use the information. The equipment is described on the technology page.

Understanding Results

After a scan, a radiology team reviews the images and prepares a personalized report noting findings and suggested next steps. If something significant appears, a specialist contacts the patient directly to discuss further evaluation. For some, the report is a wake-up call; for others, it's the reassurance they were looking for.

Who Considers a Body Scan?

Advanced Body Scan suggests scanning for adults 30 and older, particularly those who:

• Have a family history of heart disease or cancer
• Smoke or used to smoke
• Have high stress, high cholesterol or high blood pressure
• Want a baseline report to guide future care
• Would rather know than guess

Locations are in Oklahoma City, Dallas/Plano and Houston/Bellaire; see scan locations for details.