Lung Cancer Screening

Early detection of lung cancer through CT screening significantly decreases lung cancer deaths. Screening can find cancer at an earlier stage, when it is easier to treat. Screening may also find diseases in the chest other than lung cancer that may need to be treated.

Lung cancer screenings are covered for people with Medicare that:

• Are ages 50-77 years old with:
• History of 20 or more smoking pack years (pack years = # of packs smoked per day x number of years smoked)
• Currently smoking or quit within past 15 years

Lung cancer screenings are covered for people with private insurance that:

• Are ages 50-80 years old with:
• History of 20 or more smoking pack years (pack years = # of packs smoked per day x number of years smoked)
• Currently smoking or quit within past 15 years

Screening is done with a low-dose spiral computed tomography scan (LDCT). This scan is similar to a regular CT scan, but less radiation is used. Neither drinking contrast nor injections are required. You lie flat on the CT table, and the machine scans over your chest during one breath hold. It is simple, easy, safe and does not hurt.

• Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of screening before getting the exam.
• LDCT scanning exposes you to a small amount of radiation, equal to about 10 chest x-rays.
  
• LDCT scans cannot tell if an area of concern is cancerous or not. To find out if cancer is present, you may need more tests.
  
• LDCT scans may not find a cancer that is present.
  
• Not all lung cancers are the same. Some slow-growing cancers may never result in death and aggressive treatment may not be necessary.
  
• Finding something abnormal on the scan may cause you distress and affect your quality of life. However, most of the scan's findings are not cancer.
  

The low dose CT scan provides the clearest image of the lung tissue. The screening is looking for lung nodules.

• A nodule is a small rounded spot that looks like a white shadow on the CT scan.
• Nodules are common, and most are noncancerous (over 97%).
  
• A nodule can, however, represent early lung cancer.
  

If an abnormality is detected, follow up CT or other testing may be recommended. After initial screening, patients should receive yearly screenings. We track any changes to the nodules' features from year to year. We will notify patients and their doctors when a follow-up CT scan is needed.

Our radiologists determine if the nodule has any worrisome features. Based on how the nodule looks, they decide when follow-up imaging or other tests are necessary. If the CT scan suggests a high probability of lung cancer, additional tests will be performed. Every case is different. Your primary care provider will discuss treatment options and referrals when needed.