Lung - Low Dose CT Screening
People who currently smoke or who smoked previously have a higher risk for lung cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends some of these people undergo yearly lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT).
Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines
The ACS recommends yearly screening via a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan for people 50 to 80 years old who:
- Smoke or used to smoke
AND
- Have at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking
A pack-year is equal to smoking one pack per day for a year. A person could have a 20 pack-year history by smoking one pack daily for 20 years or by smoking two packs daily for 10 years.
Those considering screening should talk to a doctor about the purpose of screening and how it is done, as well as the benefits, limits, and possible harms.
Active smokers should be counseled about quitting and offered resources and/or interventions to help them.
People should not be screened if they have serious health problems likely to limit life expectancy, or if they won’t be able to get treatment or won’t want to get treatment if cancer is detected.
