Reduced lung-cancer mortality with low dose computed tomographic screening.

This large study – involving over 50,000 persons from the USA - has used modified ‘low dose’ CT scans or standard chest x-rays to screen for lung cancer. The calculated relative reduction in mortality due to lung cancer was 20% in the CT screened group, presumably due to the finding of earlier, smaller sized tumours which could be treated more effectively by surgery and/or radiotherapy, before the cancer had a greater chance of spreading. This study shows the importance of early detection using the best available diagnostic technique and has implications for the challenges of treating more patients with smaller sized cancers and enhanced prospects of cure.

The National Lung Screening Trial Research Team, “Reduced Lung-Cancer Mortality with Low-Dose Computed Tomographic Screening.,” The New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 365, no.5, pp. 395-409, Jun. 2011.