Low-Dose CT Lung Cancer Screening

Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT may help detect lung cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. Current screening guidelines recommend that providers discuss this exam with patients who may be at higher risk for developing lung cancer.

Patients may qualify for low-dose CT lung cancer screening if they meet the following criteria:

• Ages 50 to 77
• In generally good health and not currently experiencing symptoms of lung cancer
• A smoking history of 20 pack-years or more
  (Pack-years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked.)
• Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years
• Patients who may benefit from low-dose CT lung cancer screening should speak with their healthcare provider.

Why Early Detection Matters

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death among both men and women in the United States. Because symptoms often do not appear until the disease has progressed, screening can play an important role for patients at higher risk.

Low-dose CT lung cancer screening has been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality in high-risk patients by helping identify cancer earlier, when treatment options may be more effective.