Lung Cancer Screening

[Connie B]

The website below is an article regarding CT screening for Lung Cancer. NCI started a study back in 2002/2003 and should be completing that study by 2009.

I know that Minnesota (3 Major Hospitals) are also part of that study. I have had friends that enrolled in that study when it first started and are still partaking in it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17486279/site/newsweek/

Also, if a person wants to go and Goggle "Lung Cancer Screening, or Screening for Lung Cancer" you will find a lot of information regarding screening for early detection of lung cancer and information on the studies that are out there.

Here is more info that I found regarding CT screening for LC.

1: JAMA. 2007 Mar 7;297(9):953-61. Links

Comment in:

JAMA. 2007 Mar 7;297(9):995-7.

Computed tomography screening and lung cancer outcomes.Bach PB, Jett JR, Pastorino U, Tockman MS, Swensen SJ, Begg CB.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.

CONTEXT: Current and former smokers are currently being screened for lung cancer with computed tomography (CT), although there are limited data on the effect screening has on lung cancer outcomes. Randomized controlled trials assessing CT screening are currently under way. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether screening may increase the frequency of lung cancer diagnosis and lung cancer resection or may reduce the risk of a diagnosis of advanced lung cancer or death from lung cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Longitudinal analysis of 3246 asymptomatic current or former smokers screened for lung cancer beginning in 1998 either at 1 of 2 academic medical centers in the United States or an academic medical center in Italy with follow-up for a median of 3.9 years. INTERVENTION: Annual CT scans with comprehensive evaluation and treatment of detected nodules. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of predicted with observed number of new lung cancer cases, lung cancer resections, advanced lung cancer cases, and deaths from lung cancer. RESULTS: There were 144 individuals diagnosed with lung cancer compared with 44.5 expected cases (relative risk [RR], 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7-3.8; P<.001). There were 109 individuals who had a lung resection compared with 10.9 expected cases (RR, 10.0; 95% CI, 8.2-11.9; P<.001). There was no evidence of a decline in the number of diagnoses of advanced lung cancers (42 individuals compared with 33.4 expected cases) or deaths from lung cancer (38 deaths due to lung cancer observed and 38.8 expected; RR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.7-1.3; P = .90). CONCLUSIONS: Screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT may increase the rate of lung cancer diagnosis and treatment, but may not meaningfully reduce the risk of advanced lung cancer or death from lung cancer. Until more conclusive data are available, asymptomatic individuals should not be screened outside of clinical research studies that have a reasonable likelihood of further clarifying the potential benefits and risks.

PMID: 17341709 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Related LinksLung cancer screening with helical computed tomography in older adult smokers: a decision and cost-effectiveness analysis. [JAMA. 2003] PMID: 12525232 Cost-effectiveness analysis of screening for lung cancer with low dose spiral CT (computed tomography) in the Australian setting. [Lung Cancer. 2005] PMID: 15829317 Radiation risks potentially associated with low-dose CT screening of adult smokers for lung cancer. [Radiology. 2004] PMID: 15128988 The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of computed tomography screening for lung cancer: systematic reviews. [Health Technol Assess. 2006] PMID: 16409881 Screening for early lung cancer with low-dose spiral computed tomography: results of annual follow-up examinations in asymptomatic smokers. [Eur Radiol. 2004] PMID: 14727146

[RandyW]

Thanks Connie. hope you are doing well!