ASC Italy is a company that has created an Imaging Centre, unique in Europe, that performs only the Diffusion Whole Body examination, a magnetic resonance examination of the entire body, that allows us to detect cancer at an early stage. The ASC Center is in Castelli Calepio (BG), at Via Aldo Moro 68.

In developing its mission and for scientific oversight, ASC Italy is supported by the European Institute of Technology (IEO) in Milan founded by Umberto Veronesi. . In particular, Specialist Radiologists from IEO who collaborate with the international scientific community in the study of the Diffusion Whole Body have fostered the growth of this technique in Italy. At IEO over 850 DWB examinations are performed per year, almost all for patients with known or prior diagnoses of cancer. At ASC Center, DWB examinations are performed by radiographers and specialist radiologists trained and guided by the clinical oversight of the doctors at IEO who developed this examination.

Primary prevention includes healthy lifestyle and behaviors (correct nutrition, physical exercise, no smoking) that, based on scientific studies, can protect from the occurrence of cancer. Early diagnosis consists in identifying tumours as soon as possible through specific examinations, and thus forms a type of prevention. Examples are screening programs put in place by public healthy services including: mammography for breast cancer, the pap test for cervical cancer, and the search of faecal occult blood and colonoscopy for bowel cancer. Diffusion Whole Body doesn’t substitute these tests, but complements them, because it allows us to examine other organs that are not the targets of conventional screening programs in order to identify even small cancers (from 3-4 millimeters of diameter).

Studies have proven that the earlier a cancer is detected, the better are the chances to treat it and to recover with lesser collateral effects and a better quality of life for the person undergoing treatment.

From 2009 Diffusion Whole Body has been performed at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, but mainly for oncology patients. ASC Center is the only center in Italy dedicated to performing non-invasive Diffusion Whole Body examinations exclusively for cancer prevention in healthy individuals.

The medical staff of ASC is composed of:

• Radiographers responsible for preparing the person undergoing the DWB and for performing the examination
• Specialist Radiologists who follow patients through each stage of examination, analyze and interpret the images and prepare the final report.

DWB is a magnetic resonance examination of the entire body that have been specialized for the identification of tumours due to their effect on the diffusion of water molecules. Thanks to studies and progress in hardware and software its clinical performance has reached that of more invasive techniques such as PET, while the duration of the examination has been progressively reduced. The examination now lasts roughly 30 minutes. Like all MRI exams DWB, doesn’t use radiations and more it doesn’t required the injection of contrast agents so, it is non-invasive and has zero-biological risk.

Because it is the most advanced examination for early diagnosis, allowing us to identify very small tumours without risks. This makes it ideal for healthy people who want to preserve their health.

The Diffusion Whole Body is based on a simple physical phenomenon: the diffusion of water molecules. When they are trapped in a hypercellular tissue (i.e. tumours) the water molecules in human body experience a restricted diffusion. Because of this, in magnetic resonance images specifically developed to detect the water molecule diffusion, cancers even as smaller than 3-4 millimeters present with a stronger signal than surrounding healthy tissues.

The innovative factor of DWB is the ability to study the whole body in a short time and with high diagnostic performance, without using ionizing radiations or injecting of contrast agents. The examination doesn’t need any specific preparation (no fasting or pharmacological preparation) and it doesn’t cause discomfort (one simply lays still on a medical bed and can listen to music during the examination). In short, is it possible to study the entire body in a short time with zero-biological cost.

Based on scientific publications, Diffusion Whole Body has a diagnostic performance comparable to other diagnostic examinations used in oncology, like computed tomography (CT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). These other techniques however, expose patients to ionizing radiation and require the injection of contrast agents.

The Diffusion Whole Body examination uses only the most advanced MR scanners on the market, that have been specifically configured for cancer diagnosis. The work of radiologists at IEO and together with colleagues worldwide, has led to a new scanner configuration that improved its performances for cancer diagnosis over that of “normal” MR scans.

NO, the DWB doesn’t substitute traditional screening (mammography, pap test, colon testing), but rather adds to them, because it has the advantage that it examines all body districts, including those not subject to specific screening programs (including kidney, pancreas, liver…). With DWB we are able to find lesions before they become symptomatic and when therapy has the potential to be more effective and less invasive.

Because most cancers cause symptoms that may lead you to a diagnosis only after they have reached a larger size then are revealed by DWB, or when they have spread to other organs making treatment more difficult. DWB is effective for early diagnosis at zero-biological cost, without the use of ionizing radiation and without the injection of contrast agents. It allows us to analyze the so-called “orphan” organs, that aren’t usually subject to screening where diagnosis generally occurs when the illness’ symptoms are obvious.

ASC Italia is an innovative startup, having the legal form of limited liability company, made up of 10 partners, businessmen and professionals who, for years, have helped research into cancer and believe in the validity of this ambitious project: an innovative and valuable examination for the early diagnosis in healthy people.

As a radiology facility, ASC Center … ASC Center does not however, perform scans on contract to the Italian National Health Service. It works on a private patient basis.

Yes, we are happy to establish agreements with private organizations for DWB services. If you are a private organization or an entity interested in forming an agreement, contact us via email: info@asc-italia.it or by phone at +39 035 0433106.

ASC Center is located at via Aldo Moro 68, in Castelli Calepio (gps coordinates 45°38’14.5” E – 45.637361,9.894570) about 20 km from Bergamo and 30 km from Brescia in the North of Italy.

ASC Center is most easily reached by car. It is few km far from two exits (Ponte Oglio and Grumello del Monte/Telgate) of highway A4 between Milan and Verona. View directions (https://asc-italia.it/en/contacts/). ASC Center is 20 km from Bergamo’s Orio al Serio airport and about 50 km from Linate Airport in Milano. The nearest railway station is Grumello del Monte, located 3 km away.

You can reserve an examination calling the number +39 035 0433106, e-mailing us at info@asc-italia.it or filling in the appropriate form here in our website.

Currently, reservations are typically made 7 – 8 days beforehand.

No. It is not necessary to fast or undergo any specific preparation before the examination. After the examination you can restart your usually activities immediately.

It is a zero-biological cost examination. There are no needles, injections or ionizing radiation and it doesn’t require you to fast or undergo any specific preparation before the examination.

The time spent in the scanner is roughly 30 minutes. Including the interview with the Doctor, getting changed and paperwork the time required is about 1 hour.

The report will be ready within a week: it includes a written report and a DVD with all the images of the examination. When you check-in at the reception desk, you can choose whether to collect the report personally or to have it delivered to your home by courier at no extra charge.

Diffusion Whole Body CANNOT BE PERFORMED ON PERSONS WHO HAVE A PACEMAKER OR WOMEN IN THE  FIRST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY.

For further information or questions, send an e-mail to info@asc-italy.it or fill in the form in “contacts” and include your contact details. We will organize a phone call or written reply to answer any doubts/questions or provide other information.

Payment can be made by cash, debit cards, credit cards (except American Express), cheque.

No. Because DWB is an early diagnosis suggested for healthy people, the examination is performed and the Center works in a private patient basis.

Everybody can undergo the DWB, except those with a pacemaker and women in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The report can be collected at the Center from Monday to Friday from 9 to 18 or can be sent by courier to the address of residence or other address indicated in the acceptance phase on the day of the examination.

The report is very simple. It includes a detailed description of observations for each body district  and a summary of the clinical findings, and potential clinical action. For any doubts, is it possible to contact the Center and talk with one of our Radiologists.