Screening for lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lung cancer is by far the major cause of cancer deaths largely because in the majority of patients it is at an advanced stage at the time it is discovered, when curative treatment is no longer feasible. This article examines the data regarding the ability of screening to decrease the number of lung cancer deaths.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted of controlled studies that address the effectiveness of methods of screening for lung cancer.

Results

Several large randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including a recent one, have demonstrated that screening for lung cancer using a chest radiograph does not reduce the number of deaths from lung cancer. One large RCT involving low-dose CT (LDCT) screening demonstrated a significant reduction in lung cancer

SUBMITTER: Detterbeck FC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3749713 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature