Radiology and Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the world, and is strongly linked with tobacco use. Screening for lung cancer in a targeted high-risk heavily smoking population has been controversial until recently. In 2010, the National Lung Screening Trial demonstrated a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality and a smaller decrease in all-cause mortality using low dose CT screening protocols over chest radiographs. As a result, many professional organizations have issued screening guidelines, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American Cancer Society and the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons. There are still a number of questions to be answered, including optimal populations for screening, screening protocols, the risks and benefits of screening, and cost-effectiveness.