CT Lung Cancer Screening
Lung cancer accounts for 1 of every 3 cancer deaths, leading the way for cancer deaths in all ethnic groups. It is the second-most diagnosed cancer in men and women.
Learn More About CT Lung Cancer Screening
Startling as the facts may be, only 16% of lung cancers are diagnosed at their earliest, most curable stages. However, if caught early, patients can increase their treatment options, outcome and survival rate. Recent efforts from the National Cancer Institute aim to change survival rates. Their eight year trial, the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), of 53,000 smokers and ex-smokers has shown that using CT for screening of lung cancer instead of a chest X-ray has reduced cancer deaths from lung cancer by 20% over just five years.
CT Lung Cancer Screening is a Helical CT scan which evaluates your lungs for any signs of lung cancer. This screening tool is intended for individuals considered to be at high risk for developing lung cancer. The advanced CT scan provides a rapid examination of your lungs and is designed to detect small nodules (possible cancers) that may be present but not yet visible on a standard chest x-ray. Recent research suggests that detection of these nodules at a very small size may dramatically improve likelihood of survival of lung cancer.
For more information on this and other radiology procedures, please visit www.radiologyinfo.org.
Medicare and many insurance providers cover Low-Dose CT Lung Screening for patients who are considered “high risk” for lung cancer.
You may qualify if you answer YES to all of the following:
Are you between the ages of 50 and 77?
Have you smoked the equivalent of one pack a day for 20+ years or two packs a day for 10 years?
Are you currently smoking, or did you quit within the past 15 years?
If you meet these criteria, you may be eligible for insurance coverage. Talk with your doctor to see if a Low-Dose CT Lung Screening is right for you.
If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for CT Lung Cancer Screening, you can use the Lung Cancer Risk Calculator.
One of our board-certified radiologists will interpret your exam and send a report to your physician within 5 business days. You can also access your report as soon as it is finalized through the online patient portal. For any information about the findings, please contact your referring physician.
For the scan, you will be escorted to the CT imaging table and asked to lie down on your back. A technologist will ask you to hold your breath for 7-15 seconds while the images are taken. The exam is completed in less than 10 minutes from entering the exam room to exiting.
If your scan is normal, you may wish to obtain a repeat study in one year.
If the radiologist detects a pulmonary nodule that raises concern, you may be asked to return for a diagnostic CT test. Frequently, nodules detected on the screening exam are subsequently revealed to be benign granulomas or scars on the diagnostic study.
Therefore, an initially positive screening test does not mean you have lung cancer. Additional charges for the diagnostic scan, and for any additional tests that may be needed will usually be covered by insurance. In some cases, a small nodule may be detected which is not considered suspicious, and you may be asked to return for periodic rechecking of the nodule to be sure it is benign (not cancerous).
Benefits
Detects lung cancer early, when it’s more treatable
Shown to reduce deaths in high-risk patients
Quick, noninvasive, and uses a low radiation dose
Risks
Small amount of radiation exposure
May find spots that are not cancer (false positives), leading to extra tests
Can sometimes detect slow-growing cancers that may never cause problems (overdiagnosis)