Screening for Lung Cancer With Low-Dose Computed Tomography: Grand Rounds Discussion From the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Ann Intern Med. 2015 Apr 21;162(8):577-82. doi: 10.7326/M15-0055.

Abstract

In December 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for selected current and former smokers. The Task Force based the recommendation primarily on the results of the NLST (National Lung Screening Trial). In this trial, patients randomly assigned to LDCT screening for 3 years had lower rates of both lung cancer-specific mortality and all-cause mortality (relative risk reduction, 6.7% [95% CI, 1.2% to 13.6%]; absolute risk reduction, 0.46% [CI, 0% to 0.9%]). Clinicians and health systems confront questions and challenges as they begin to implement lung cancer screening. This paper summarizes a conference during which an internist and a radiologist discuss the application of the Task Force recommendation to an individual patient.

Publication types

  • Clinical Conference

MeSH terms

  • Early Detection of Cancer / methods*
  • Female
  • Guideline Adherence
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Participation
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Radiation Dosage
  • Risk Assessment
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • United States