The study that received the 1984 Volvo Award in Clinical Science was published in Spine as a two part report by Wiesel et al (Spine 9:549-551, 1984) and by Bell et al (Spine 9:552-556,1984) indicating, among other matters, that CT scanning discloses a high (26.2%-51%) frequency of abnormalities in asymptomatic individuals and that metrizamide myelography is more accurate than CT scanning in the diagnosis of herniated nucleous pulposus and spinal stenosis. This report has provoked strong reaction from a number of different individuals who challenge the validity of the results for similar reasons. Because of the obvious importance of the topic in question, the Editor has selected the following letters for publication to air the issues and permit the reader to make his own assessment of the merits of CT scanning and myelography as diagnostic studies.