Who should have a scan?
Anyone over 30, especially if they have a family history of cancer, heart disease, diabetes or other chronic illness.Why do some health care professionals caution about the use of scans?Many health care professionals believe scans are not for everyone. For people under 30 with no special risk factors, the scan -- which is expensive and usually not covered by insurance -- can be an unnecessary expense. The scan sometimes registers false positives, making a patient believe they are sick when they are not. Experts also worry patients will rely on scans instead of seeing a doctor regularly.