Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT

Purpose To discuss annual lung cancer screening guidelines and to suggest areas for future research to improve early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT). Methods Multiple electronic databases were searched to locate scholarly sources pertaining to LDCT lung cancer screenings. Twenty peer-reviewed journal articles, screening guidelines, and current statistics from several websites were reviewed for this analysis. Results The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual LDCT lung cancer screenings based on several clinical trials during the past decade. The International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) also suggest LDCT screening for early lung cancer detection, but their recommendations deviate slightly from those of the USPSTF. Discussion Lung cancer screening recommendations vary among the USPSTF, I-ELCAP, and NCCN. Because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services does not cover the cost of all recommended procedures, some patients do not undergo annual LDCT lung cancer screening. Uniform recommendations for patient eligibility, scanning protocols, positivity measurements, and follow-up procedures are warranted. Conclusion Future research is needed to develop universal recommendations and guidelines for LDCT lung cancer screening that are accepted and recognized worldwide to improve early lung cancer detection rates.