Low-dose computed tomography (ld-CT) for lung cancer screening in high-risk subjects is performed within clinical trials and has started to be used in routine clinical practice. The technique is well defined, even if some methodological problems are still debated, such as the measurements of pulmonary nodules, the size to define them as clinically significant, the management of small or non-solid nodules and the best diagnostic work-up to optimize diagnostic accuracy. The data derived from an IEO observational study, started in 2000, shows a high prevalence and incidence of early stage lung cancer detected at ld-CT, demonstrating the need to prolong observation for a long period of time. The high survival rate of patients with screening-detected cancer has recently been debated in a number of papers using statistical models, but the advantage of the yearly ld-CT for the individuals is unquestionable; its benefit on the population base has still to be demonstrated by ongoing randomized trials.

Author

Massimo Bellomi, Cristiano Rampinelli, Elvio De Fiori, Lorenzo Preda and Giulia Veronesi

Contact Details

Corresponding address:
Professor Massimo Bellomi, MD, Director of Diagnostic Radiology, European
Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, Italy

Reference

ICIS Cancer Imaging Volume 9 Special Issue A
DOI: 10.1102/1470-7330.2009.9045

Date Posted

5 October 2009

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