The latest ACR program, Lung Cancer Screening Center, recognizes facilities screening lung cancer patients with low dose CT.
The American College of Radiology (ACR) announced the launch of its latest program, the Lung Cancer Screening Center, and is now accepting applications.
The program will recognize facilities committed to providing quality screening care to the patients with the highest risk for lung cancer, the ACR announced. Studies have shown that lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT) and appropriate follow-up care can reduce the number of lung cancer deaths. The screening is also more cost effective than other major cancer screening tools, the ACR stated.
Facilities must have an active ACR CT accreditation in the chest module and meet additional personnel, equipment and imaging protocol requirements as listed in the “ACR Designated Lung Cancer Screening Center: Attestation Form.”
In December 2013, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended screening for adults ages 55-80 at high risk for lung cancer. High risk was identified as adults with a 30 pack-year history that still smoke or quit within the past 15 years. The Affordable Care Act requires that private insurers cover all medical exams or procedures that receive a grade of “B” or higher (which includes CT lung cancer screening) without a co-pay. The Medicare Evidence & Coverage Advisory Committee voted earlier this month that there is not enough evidence to support Medicare’s coverage of the screening.
“Lung cancer screening in patients at high risk of acquiring the disease is the most effective way to identify tumors and reduce lung cancer deaths” Ella Kazerooni, MD, chair of the ACR Committee on Lung Cancer Screening, said in a release. “This ACR program provides for quality assurance that helps facilities consistently ensure the greatest possible lifesaving benefit from these exams and more efficiently put their patients on the path to better health.”
The ACR also launched the first edition of Lung-RADS, a quality assurance tool designed to standardize lung cancer screening CT reporting and management recommendations. The system, which came out May 1, is an effort to reduce confusion in lung cancer screening CT interpretations and facilitate outcome monitoring.
“The ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center designation signifies to patients and payers that these lifesaving exams are provided in a safe, effective manner. Both will be looking for this quality assurance moving forward. The ACR designation is an efficient process to support robust CT lung cancer screening programs and demonstrate commitment to high-quality care,” Bibb Allen, Jr, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR Board of Chancellors, said in a release.
More information about the ACR Lung Cancer Screening center is available at the ACR web site.
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.