Low-dose CT screening for patients at high risk of lung cancer can find smaller nodules than X-ray, but concern remains about potential harm from the test.
Low-dose CT screening for patients who are at increased risk of developing lung cancer can identify smaller nodules than can chest X-rays. But concern remains regarding potential harm from the screening, according to a study published online in JAMA.
Peter B. Bach, MD, of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and colleagues assessed the results of several randomized controlled trials and cohort studies, finding that the National Lung Screening trial was the most informative, with 53,545 participants. The findings showed that the screening resulted in a 20 percent lower relative risk of death.
“In terms of potential harms of [low-dose CT] screening, across all trials and cohorts, approximately 20 percent of individuals in each round of screening had positive results requiring some degree of follow-up, while approximately 1 percent had lung cancer,” the study authors wrote.
“There was marked heterogeneity in this finding and in the frequency of follow-up investigations, biopsies, and percentage of surgical procedures performed in patients with benign lesions.”
The study authors concluded, however, that there is still uncertainty about the potential harms of screening and generalizability of the results.
Photon-Counting Computed Tomography: Eleven Takeaways from a New Literature Review
May 27th 2025In a review of 155 studies, researchers examined the capabilities of photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) for enhanced accuracy, tissue characterization, artifact reduction and reduced radiation dosing across thoracic, abdominal, and cardiothoracic imaging applications.
Can AI Predict Future Lung Cancer Risk from a Single CT Scan?
May 19th 2025In never-smokers, deep learning assessment of single baseline low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans demonstrated a 79 percent AUC for predicting lung cancer up to six years later, according to new research presented today at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference.
Can Emerging AI Software Offer Detection of CAD on CCTA on Par with Radiologists?
May 14th 2025In a study involving over 1,000 patients who had coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) exams, AI software demonstrated a 90 percent AUC for assessments of cases > CAD-RADS 3 and 4A and had a 98 percent NPV for obstructive coronary artery disease.