"Waste of Money and Time"... Which Health Checkup Items Do Even Doctors Say Are Unnecessary?

Unnecessary Tests: 'Jeonlipseon Ultrasound'
"No Need for Both CT and Ultrasound"
Essential Screening Item: 'Colonoscopy'

Woo Chang-yoon, an internal medicine specialist at Seoul Asan Medical Center, advised on additional paid test items that are not necessarily required beyond the basic screening items. The photo shows the National Health Screening follow-up service being conducted at the Community Health Management Center within Seongdong-gu Public Health Center. Photo by Seongdong-gu Public Health Center

As the end of the year approaches, many people are planning health checkups, and an internal medicine specialist has offered advice on paid additional test items that are not necessarily required beyond the basic screening items.

On the 13th, Woo Chang-yoon, an internal medicine specialist at Seoul Asan Medical Center, appeared on YTN Radio's "Wise Radio Life" to discuss these health screening items.

Specialist Woo explained, "Prostate ultrasound is often included in regular screening items. However, prostate cancer can be detected more sensitively through a blood test called the PSA test rather than ultrasound." He added, "Prostate ultrasound is performed when you want to measure the size in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia. To check for prostate cancer, a blood test is appropriate, so it can be excluded from the screening items."

"No need to do CT and ultrasound together unless there is a special purpose"

On this day, Specialist Woo also stated, "Unless there is a special purpose, there is no need to do CT and ultrasound together." For example, for a man in his mid-40s, if he is obese, it is good to have an abdominal ultrasound, but there is no need to have an abdominal CT as well. According to Specialist Woo, most cancers can be screened through commonly performed chest and abdominal CT scans and upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies.

"MRI is also not necessarily recommended"

Specialist Woo answered "No" to the question, "Is it necessary to get an MRI?" He explained, "Usually, MRI is mostly done for the brain, but it is not used to detect cancer. The incidence of brain cancer in middle-aged people is very low, so it is not particularly recommended." He continued, "The reason for brain MRI is to check for possible brain aneurysms, but since the probability is very low, it is not recommended for the general population because it is not cost-effective." However, he added, "MRI does not involve radiation exposure, so it is a very safe test for individuals. If you are curious or worried at least once in your life, having one MRI scan is okay."

The essential screening item you must get is 'this'

The specialist recommended the 'colonoscopy' as a necessary screening item. The photo shows a colonoscopy being performed.

So, what are the essential screening items you must get? Specialist Woo recommended the 'colonoscopy' test. He said, "According to national screening standards, stomach cancer screening starts at age 40 and colorectal cancer screening at age 50, but recently, colorectal cancer among young people is rapidly increasing. If there is bleeding, changes in bowel habits, or a feeling of incomplete evacuation, you should always get screened." He added, "Young people are more likely to have polyps, which can develop into colorectal cancer over 5 to 10 years. Colonoscopy is to find and remove these. In Korea, colonoscopy is especially affordable and accessible, so I recommend it."

Meanwhile, the National Health Insurance Service recently warned about an increase in scam text messages impersonating the agency. According to cases disclosed by the Service, the messages include phrases such as 'National Health Insurance health checkup certificate sent,' 'National Health Insurance health examination insurance notification delivered, please confirm,' and 'National Health checkup notice. Please check details,' along with internet URLs. Clicking the URL can infect mobile devices with malware, leading to leakage of personal and financial information, so caution is required.