I'm not convinced by the conclusions of a study released in the latest issue of the journal Radiology which is reported with headlines like "Yearly full body scan ups cancer risk from 1 in 1200 to 1 in 50"

This is not a study of actual CAT-scan patients. It's just a study of the dangers of radiation exposure, period, and the researchers happened to apply it to the levels commonly found in CT Scans. Like every other medical procedure, it does little good to talk about the downsides (radiation exposure) without talking about the upsides (early diagnosis of potential problems). Even the "1:50 odds of cancer" stressed in the headline only applies if you get a scan once a year for 30 years. But what are the odds of finding an anomoly that can be treated early? If the chances of a good outcome are greater than 1 in 50 -- and I bet they are -- then regular CT scans are a good idea.