Screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT.
Lung cancer represents the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. In the past, many attempts were made to detect the disease at an early stage and subsequently reduce its mortality. Chest X-ray was abandoned for this purpose. For several years low-dose computed tomography has been introduced as a potential tool for early screening in a high-risk population. As demonstrated in several papers, the task is not easy and researchers are faced with many difficulties. This paper reviews mainly the role of low-dose CT for early cancer screening. Results of past and current trials, controversies related to the high rate of lung nodules, cost-effectiveness, and delivered radiation dose to the patient are presented. Finally some limitations of low dose CT for lung cancer detection are explained.
Coche
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Department of Medical Imaging, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. coche@rdgn.ucl.ac.be
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*