102 People at high risk of lung cancer in England may benefit from an expanded screening approach that also checks for other deadly diseases, according to new research. A one-off abdominal CT scan, offered alongside routine lung screening, could detect serious conditions early and prove cost-effective for the NHS. The findings were published in the British Journal of Cancer. The findings, based on the Yorkshire Kidney Screening Trial, suggest that pairing abdominal imaging with lung scans may catch conditions such as abdominal aortic aneurysms and kidney cancer that typically go undetected until advanced stages. These diseases are more common in smokers, the same group already targeted for lung screening, making the combined approach particularly efficient. Researchers modelled the costs and outcomes of offering a single upper abdominal scan during lung screening for people aged 55–74. The scan cost around £70 per person and offered a small but meaningful gain in life expectancy and quality of life. The results showed a 96% chance that this approach would be cost-effective under NHS thresholds. The most significant benefits came from early detection of abdominal aortic aneurysms, a potentially fatal condition that can rupture without warning. Although there is already a screening programme for aneurysms, it currently targets only men aged 65. The new approach could identify cases missed by this programme or those who never attended it. Kidney cancer was the second most important contributor to the cost-effectiveness of the abdominal scan, especially in men under 65. Participants in the trial showed high acceptance of the combined scan, with 93% agreeing to the additional test. Beyond the targeted conditions, the scan uncovered a range of other health issues, including different cancers and kidney abnormalities, some of which required follow-up. However, the added value of detecting these other issues was less clear and sometimes reduced overall cost-effectiveness due to follow-up costs without clear health benefits. The study found that screening was most cost-effective when offered to younger people in the eligible age bracket. Screening people over 70 offered fewer health benefits while increasing costs, partly because older individuals are less likely to gain as many years of life from early detection. The researchers also noted that offering this combined scan beyond age 74 would not be a good use of NHS resources. The analysis used advanced health economic modelling and considered multiple scenarios to test its conclusions. Even when assuming lower benefits or higher costs, the findings held steady, making a strong case for further research and a potential larger trial. While more evidence is needed to determine how this approach might work in practice, especially if repeated over time, the study highlights how existing health checks could be adapted to provide broader benefits without major additional investment.