Lung Cancer Screening

Abstract Learning Objectives After completing this course, the reader will be able to: Identify the role of screening in the diagnosis of lung cancer.Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of screening for lung cancer using CT scans.Describe the impact of advances in technology on screening for lung cancer.Name the nonimaging modalities that may play a role in lung cancer screening in the future. Access and take the CME test online and receive 1 AMA PRA category 1 credit at CME.TheOncologist.com Advances in imaging technology have ushered in a new era for lung cancer screening in high-risk individuals using computed tomographic (CT) scans. Although most published studies are nonrandomized observational cohorts of volunteers, the ability of CT scans to detect early stage lung cancer is undisputable. What is unresolved is the ability of spiral CT screening to affect lung cancer-related mortality. A large randomized trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute to address this question is currently under way. Genomic and proteomic approaches promise to complement the ability of spiral CT to detect early lung cancer in the next few years. Currently, the decision to screen for lung cancer should involve a careful discussion with the individuals involved about the potential advantages, costs, and drawbacks of the approach.