CT Screening for Lung Cancer
Screening for cancer means testing for cancer before there are any symptoms. Screening Lungs with Low dose CT scan is a test that can reduce death from some types of lung cancer through early detection and treatment. The test is not recommended for everyone and it has risks as well as benefits. The key points for patients who may be at risk for lung cancer or are worried about their risk for lung cancer.
In November 2010, the initial findings from the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial (NLST) were released. These findings reveal that participants who received low-dose helical CT scans had a 20 percent lower risk of dying from lung cancer than participants who received standard chest X-rays
The best way to prevent lung cancer is to never smoke or stop smoking now. If you are still smoking, talk to your doctor about ways to help you
The National Lung Screening Trial ( NLST ) criteria :
- A current or former smoker (former smokers having quit within the past 15 years)
- In the age group from 55 to 74 years
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With a smoking history of at least 30 pack-years (1 pack/day for 30 years, 2 packs per day for 15 years, etc.)
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No history of lung cancer
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There is no evidence at this time that other high-risk groups should be screened. Patients with lung disease, particularly COPD should be evaluated by a pulmonologist regarding the advisability of CT screening in the context of the severity of their disease.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) RECOMMENDS that Low-dose computed tomography has high sensitivity and acceptable specificity for detecting lung cancer in high-risk persons and is the only currently recommended screening test for lung cancer. Annual screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography is of moderate net benefit in asymptomatic persons who are at high risk for lung cancer based on age, total cumulative exposure to tobacco smoke, and years since quitting smoking.
No other test thus far have been clinically validated to be useful to be applied in screening in Lung cancer. At this time, only Low Dose CT scans are recommended for screening. Chest X-rays are not recommended for screening.
With Optima CT660 ,Low Dose Lung cancer screening takes just 6 seconds .The low-dose CT
will deliver an effective dose of between 1 and 4 mSv, whereas a conventional chest CT deliversan effective dose of about 5 to 20 mSv
