Jazmin Li
Airport body scanners are used to detect items that may pose a threat, such as weapons or explosives. They can also detect non-threat items such as thick hair, hair clips, breast implants, and prosthetics. However, millimeter-wave scanners, commonly used in the US and Canada, only check the contour of the body and cannot detect health issues such as inflammation or tumors. While there have been reports of airport scanners detecting cysts or hernias, these are considered rare situations.
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What You'll Learn
Millimeter-wave scanners cannot detect inflammation
Millimeter-wave scanners are whole-body imaging devices used at airport security checkpoints to detect objects concealed under a person's clothing. They are considered safe for pregnant people and those with pacemakers.
Unlike X-ray technology, millimeter-wave scanners do not reveal what's inside a person's body. Instead, they only check the contour of the body and reflect off the skin to bounce back an image. This means they cannot detect health issues such as inflammation or tumors.
In 2013, the U.S. Congress prohibited the display of detailed images from millimeter-wave scanners, requiring that metal and other objects be displayed on a generic body outline instead of a person's actual skin. This was due to privacy concerns, as the scanners were previously able to display detailed images of the surface of the skin, prosthetics, and medical equipment.
While millimeter-wave scanners are effective at detecting metallic and non-metallic threat items, they have been criticized for their cost-benefit ratio and inability to detect dangerous objects in some cases. Therefore, while these scanners may detect certain objects or anomalies on the body, they are not designed or capable of detecting inflammation.
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X-ray scanners are more likely to detect inflammation
X-ray scanners, on the other hand, use ionizing radiation to create detailed images of the inside of a person's body. This technology allows for the detection of items concealed under clothing, including metallic and non-metallic threat items such as weapons and explosives. While the primary purpose of X-ray scanners is security, their ability to create detailed images of the body suggests that they are more likely to detect inflammation than millimeter-wave scanners.
In support of this, a case reported by Dr. Warren Heymann describes a female traveler with a common type of skin cyst who was flagged for a hidden explosive search at a US airport. Dr. Heymann notes that this was likely due to the cyst appearing as a solid mass on the scanner, which is consistent with how inflammation may appear.
Additionally, a radiology and public health researcher at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Mahadevappa Mahesh, explains that if a large cyst or mass appears above the skin or body outline, the scanner may reflect that. This further suggests that X-ray scanners have the capability to detect inflammation, particularly if it is causing a noticeable change in the body.
However, it is important to note that X-ray scanners are not without their drawbacks. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the use of full-body X-ray scanning technology, referring to the images as "virtual strip searches." As a result, the display of detailed images has been prohibited in some countries, and X-ray scanners have been replaced by machines using radio frequencies in many larger airports.
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Scanners can detect large cysts or masses
Airport body scanners are designed to detect metallic and non-metallic threat items, such as weapons and explosives. They are not meant to detect health issues such as inflammation.
Millimetre-wave scanners, which are commonly used in airports in the US and Canada, use electromagnetic radiation to detect objects concealed under a person's clothing. These scanners only check the contour of the body and do not reveal what is inside.
However, in some rare cases, airport scanners have flagged individuals with large cysts or masses that appear to stick up above the skin or body outline. Dr. Mahadevappa Mahesh, a radiology and public health researcher at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, explains that if a large cyst or mass looks like a solid mass compared to the area around it, the scanner may reflect that.
In one case, a female traveller with a common type of skin cyst was flagged for a hidden explosive search at a US airport. Dr. Warren Heymann, a researcher at Cooper Medical School, notes that this is a rare situation and that there has only been one similar case in the medical literature, involving a man with a hernia.
While airport scanners are primarily focused on security threats, they can sometimes detect large cysts or masses that deviate significantly from the surrounding area. Travellers with such conditions can carry a doctor's note explaining their situation to show airport security agents if needed.
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Scanners can detect radioactive material in patients
Airport body scanners that use millimeter-wave technology, like those in the US and Canada, do not reveal what’s inside a person’s body. Unlike X-ray technology, millimeter-wave technology only checks the contour of the body and therefore cannot detect health issues such as inflammation.
Scanners can, however, detect radioactive material in patients. Nuclear medicine uses a small amount of radioactive material combined with a carrier molecule, which is called a radiotracer. Radiotracers are made up of carrier molecules that are bonded tightly to a radioactive atom. These carrier molecules vary depending on the purpose of the scan. For example, doctors may need to know the exact source of intestinal bleeding, so they can radiolabel a sample of red blood cells taken from the patient, reinject the blood, and use a SPECT scan to follow the blood's path in the patient.
SPECT imaging instruments provide three-dimensional images of the distribution of radioactive tracer molecules that have been introduced into the patient’s body. The 3D images are computer-generated from a large number of projection images of the body recorded at different angles. SPECT imagers have gamma camera detectors that can detect the gamma-ray emissions from the tracers that have been injected into the patient.
PET scans also use radiopharmaceuticals to create three-dimensional images. The main difference between SPECT and PET scans is the type of radiotracers used. While SPECT scans measure gamma rays, the decay of the radiotracers used with PET scans produces small particles called positrons. A positron is a particle with roughly the same mass as an electron but oppositely charged. When positrons and electrons combine, they annihilate each other, producing a small amount of energy in the form of two photons that shoot off in opposite directions. The detectors in the PET scanner measure these photons and use this information to create images of internal organs.
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Scanners can detect breast prostheses
Airport body scanners that use millimeter-wave technology, like those in the US and Canada, do not reveal what's inside a person's body. Unlike X-ray technology, millimeter-wave technology only checks the contour of the body and therefore cannot detect health issues such as inflammation, tumors, or other medical conditions. However, it's important to note that while millimeter-wave technology is safe for pregnant individuals, X-ray technology is typically used for scanning luggage and can have unknown effects on food, medicine, and breast milk.
While millimeter-wave technology may not detect inflammation, it's important to understand how it interacts with breast prostheses. Breast prostheses are artificial devices used to enhance the size of a woman's breasts and can be made of various materials, including silicone. When traveling through an airport with a breast prosthesis, it is essential to know how it will be handled by security scanners to ensure a smooth and stress-free experience.
Silicone breast prostheses are generally safe to pass through airport security scanners and metal detectors. However, it is recommended to inform the security officers about the presence of the prosthesis before stepping into the scanner. This is because, in rare cases, certain types of silicone or other materials in the prosthesis might trigger an alert in the scanner, resulting in additional screening.
Communicating with the TSA agents beforehand can help streamline the process. Travelers with breast prostheses have specific rights under the ACAA (Americans with Disabilities Act), which ensures that they can opt for private screenings if desired. Additionally, travelers are not required to remove their prostheses during screening, and female officers are available for manual checks if necessary. Understanding these rights and procedures can help individuals with breast prostheses navigate airport security with confidence and ease.
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Frequently asked questions
No, airport body scanners that use millimeter-wave technology, like those in the US and Canada, do not reveal what’s inside a person’s body. They only check the contour of the body.
Airport body scanners are designed to detect metallic and non-metallic threat items, such as weapons and explosive materials.
Yes, you can refuse to go through an airport body scanner and opt for a physical search instead. However, passengers who have been selected for enhanced screening cannot opt out of the full-body scanner.
