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Conduct a web search for "whole body scans." They are CT scans of the entire body and are promoted as a method for early detection of abnormalities. Using your own ideas, construct a list of the advantages and disadvantages of whole body scans and reach a conclusion. To what extent are whole body scans related to the issue of overdiagnosis?Why is newborn screening important for public health practice? Give examples of programs for newborn screening.

User Jonny C
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Answer:

CT scans of whole body gives images of entire body and are helpful in predetection of various abnormalities in body such as cancer.

Advantages of CT scan are :

  • It allows a quick diagnosis of a impending disease.
  • it allows to find out whether surgeries are necessary or not.
  • It details about the present health of the patient.
  • Improves diagnosis of cancer, early cancer detection increases the chances of being cured.

Disadvantages of CT scan:

  • CT scan exposes the patient to ionizing radiation increasing the risk of cancer slightly.
  • Sometimes leads to confusion in diagnosis.
  • It is quite costly.

Over-diagnosis of disease is a major drawback of scan as the scanning detects every abnormality in the body. In such cases, it might happen that some wounds, or other tissue mass may get over diagnosed as cancer.

New born Screening allows diagnosis of certain diseases that are otherwise not expressed in a child. New born screening allows early diagnosis and treatment of certain life threatening diseases like beta thalassemia, sickle cell anemia and certain cancers before it is too late.

Examples of new born screening , NHS newborn blood spot screening programme.

User Leon Freire
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