Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While
smoking cessation efforts are imperative, development of effective lung cancer
screening approaches are essential given current lung cancer prevalence. Historical
attempts to screen lung cancer through chest radiography and sputum cytology resulted
in earlier diagnosis of lung cancers, without improvement in cancer-related mortality or
stage shift. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) demonstrated that low-dose
computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer decreases cancer-related and
all-cause mortality. Current consensus guidelines recommend annual LDCT screening
for individuals at high-risk for the development of lung cancer. Prospective trials are
needed to refine selection of optimal screening populations, duration and intervals.
Successful implementation of lung cancer screening programs will depend upon
creation of a multi-disciplinary team allowing for nodule surveillance with expertise in
lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Keywords: Chest radiograph, Cost-effectiveness, Guidelines, Low-dose
computed tomography, Lung cancer, Lung cancer screening, Lung nodule,
National Lung Screening Trial, Overdiagnosis, Smoking cessation.
