title: Queensland Lung Cancer Screening Study: rationale, design and methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Australia. Screening using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can reduce lung cancer mortality. The feasibility of screening in Australia is unknown. This paper describes the rationale, design and methods of the Queensland Lung Cancer Screening Study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to describe the methodology for a feasibility study of lung cancer screening by LDCT in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Queensland Lung Cancer Screening Study is an ongoing, prospective observational study of screening by LDCT at a single tertiary institution. Healthy volunteers at high risk of lung cancer (age 60-74 years; smoking history ≥30 pack years, current or quit within 15 years; forced expiratory volume in 1s ≥50% predicted) are recruited from the general public through newspaper advertisement and press release. Participants receive a LDCT scan of the chest at baseline, year 1 and year 2 using a multidetector helical computed tomography scanner and are followed up for a total of 5 years. Feasibility of screening will be assessed by cancer detection rates, lung nodule prevalence, optimal management strategies for lung nodules, economic costs, healthcare utilisation and participant quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Studying LDCT screening in the Australian setting will help us understand how differences in populations, background diseases and healthcare structures modulate screening effectiveness. This information, together with results from overseas randomised studies, will inform and facilitate local policymaking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Medicine, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. henry_marshall@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crossin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Slaughter
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Passmore
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: McCaul
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Windsor
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Keir
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards