January 23, 2005

Whatever Happened To Full-Body Scans

Maybe it's because I can't get rid of a nagging cold, but this piece of health news struck my eye. Just a few years ago, you couldn't listen to the radio in urban markets without hearing ads for clinics that offered full-body scans that could detect all kinds of illnesses, especially cancer, by taking a 15-minute scan.

It sounded too good to be true. Early detection of cancer. A non-invasive scan (no disgusting liquids to ingest, no clothes to disrobe). An expensive but not outrageous price.

So why are most full-body scan now defunct? This New York Times article explains why (free registration might be necessary to view).