Next time you're prepping for a CT of your gastrointestinal tract, you might not need to reach any further than your refrigerator because a new study suggests that whole milk is just as effective, costs less, and is easier on patients than the barium suspension commonly used for oral contrast.

A study of 215 patients turned up this conclusion and besides the similar effectiveness of milk and barium, patients were generally happier drinking milk.

Says Chi Wan Koo, MD, lead author of the study: "We found that milk was less expensive, it had better patient acceptance and fewer adverse symptoms."

Intrigued? Check out the study abstract here, in the May issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

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Coming soon to a physician's office near you ... the Mini Ultrasound Machine. Most small doctor's offices don't have room for CT scanners, but in the tradition of miniaturizing technology, a new 2-pound ultrasound machine can just as accurately spot heart trouble.

The new Acuson P10 provides doctors with the ability to easily examine patients for fluid around the heart, blocked blood vessels, and irregular valve movement.

Don't be surprised if you see this new gizmo at your GP's office the next time you're in for a visit.

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If you've ever been in a CT scanner, you were probably nervous. Did the scan produce the best and most accurate pictures of your insides so your doctors would form an accurate opinion about any conditions?

Most likely, your CT scan was used very well -- but the accuracy of those images sometimes comes into question. General Electric is trying to improve on this by releasing a new high-definition CT scanner.

This new scanner should produce clearer images while reducing your exposure to radiation at the same time. Just like x-rays, CT scans throw radiation through your body at the same time looking for maladies. Sounds like an oxymoron, right? It's one of the few ways a full-body, non-invasive look inside your body can be done with current techniques, though.

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