A decision aid for people considering lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography

 

The USPSTF recommends lung cancer screening for individuals who:

 - Are 55 to 80 years old

 - Do not have any signs or symptoms of lung cancer (diagnostic testing may be recommended for people who do have signs or symptoms of lung cancer)

 - Have not had lung cancer before

 - Currently smoke or quit less than 15 years ago

 - Are or were heavy smokers (30 pack-years history such as those who smoked 1 pack per day for 30 years or 2 packs per day for 15 years)



BENEFIT: Greater chance of not dying from lung cancer

 - If 1,000 people are not screened with LDCT for lung cancer, 21 will die from lung cancer.

 - If 1,000 people are screened with LDCT once a year for 3 years, 18 will die from lung cancer.

 - This means that with LDCT screening, 3 fewer people will die from lung cancer.



HARM: 

A false alarm happens when a person has a positive screening test but does not actually have lung cancer.



 - If 1,000 people are screened every year for 3 years, about 356 will have a false alarm.

 - Of these 356 people with a false alarm, 18 will have an invasive procedure such as a biopsy (a tiny piece of lung tissue is removed to test for cancer).

 - Of these 18 people, less than 1 will have a major complication as a result of the procedure, such as bleeding in the lung, a collapsed lung, or an infection.



#LungCancer #Screening #Criteria #ChestCT #PrimaryCare #DecisionAid #LDCT