Should more imaging be included in physicals?
As healthcare continues to embrace technology-driven innovation, some experts argue it is time to expand the role of medical imaging in annual physical exams—particularly for high-risk and executive patients.
Radiology Business spoke with John Simon, MD, CEO of SimonMed Imaging, who believes imaging has advanced to the point where it can detect disease earlier and more accurately than traditional diagnostic methods. He argues advanced imaging should be integrated into routine and executive physicals because it offers more diagnostic information and has the ability to diagnose disease much earlier.
"I would support more imaging. I think we work with a lot of very progressive providers and they do recognize the quality of imaging and how it helps in the diagnosis," Simon explains.
Simon has been a vocal advocate for the use of whole-body MRI scans, a technique capable of identifying early signs of cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders without the use of radiation. While hospitals may see additional downstream revenue from follow-up care when issues are discovered, Simon cautions that financial motivation should not be the driver behind increased imaging.
“There’s some follow-up, but it’s not a lot. So that’s not a motivation to do it,” he says. “When you have experienced radiologists, that’s not desired. We want it to be a good study with few false positives.”
He points out that hospital systems, in particular, could benefit from including advanced imaging, such as whole-body MRI and cardiac CT angiography, in their preventive care programs. This is especially relevant in executive physicals, where patients often undergo comprehensive two- to three-day evaluations, but still may not receive advanced imaging as part of the protocol.
“I always wonder, of all that and how much you’ve spent, do they do whole-body MRI? Do they do cardiac CT angio? And it’s surprising—there is a gap between what’s possible and what’s actually done,” Simon notes.
He notes the growing use of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) to detect heart disease in its earliest stages using new AI-enabled software. He also cites the use of CT for lung cancer screenings and MRI for neurological assessments.
As imaging becomes more affordable and noninvasive, the debate over its role in preventive care is likely to grow.
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]