title: Radiation risk of lung cancer screening.
abstract: Lung cancer screening with low dose computed tomography (CT) is the only method ever proven to reduce lung cancer-specific mortality in high-risk current and former cigarette smokers. Radiation exposure from annual screening CT examinations and subsequent CT and nuclear medicine testing to further evaluate positive screening CTs is sometimes raised as a reason to avoid screening and is often misunderstood. With all testing, there are potential benefits and risks. As we sit on the brink of widespread adoption of lung cancer screening CT, we aim to explain why the risks associated with radiation exposure from lung cancer screening are very low and should not be used to avoid screening or dissuade individuals who qualify for screening CT to participate in a lung cancer screening program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Health System, Taubman Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Luba
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: Ella A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kazerooni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology