Low-dose CT scans could reduce mortality in lung cancer patients by up to 20 percent, according to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
From Aug. 2002 through April 2004, researchers of the National Lung Screening Trial Research Team enrolled more than 53,000 people at high risk for lung cancer at 33 U.S. medical centers. Half of the group was assigned to undergo three annual low-dose CT screenings, while the other half underwent single-view posteroanterior chest radiography.
Here are some results of the study:
• There were 247 deaths from lung cancer per 100,000 person-years in the low-dose CT group and 309 deaths from lung cancer per 100,000 person-years in the radiography group.
• The reduction in mortality with the low-dose CT group is roughly 20 percent.
• The rate of positive screening tests was 24.2 percent with low-dose CT and 6.9 percent with radiography over all three rounds of testing.
• The incidence of lung cancer was 645 cases per 100,000 person-years in the low-dose CT group and 572 cases per 100,000 person-years in the radiography group.
• Across the three rounds of screenings, 96.4 percent of the positive results were false positive results in the low-dose CT group, while 94.5 percent were false positive results in the radiography group.
• While advances in CT scans may have led to better results over chest radiography, researchers suggests that the cost-effectiveness of low-dose CT screening, as well as potential harms from false positives and overdiagnosis, must be "rigorously analyzed."
Read the New England Journal of Medicine study on low-dose CT scans.
Related Articles on CT Scans:
Pennsylvania Hospitals Latch Onto National Movement to Limit Child CT Scans
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From Aug. 2002 through April 2004, researchers of the National Lung Screening Trial Research Team enrolled more than 53,000 people at high risk for lung cancer at 33 U.S. medical centers. Half of the group was assigned to undergo three annual low-dose CT screenings, while the other half underwent single-view posteroanterior chest radiography.
Here are some results of the study:
• There were 247 deaths from lung cancer per 100,000 person-years in the low-dose CT group and 309 deaths from lung cancer per 100,000 person-years in the radiography group.
• The reduction in mortality with the low-dose CT group is roughly 20 percent.
• The rate of positive screening tests was 24.2 percent with low-dose CT and 6.9 percent with radiography over all three rounds of testing.
• The incidence of lung cancer was 645 cases per 100,000 person-years in the low-dose CT group and 572 cases per 100,000 person-years in the radiography group.
• Across the three rounds of screenings, 96.4 percent of the positive results were false positive results in the low-dose CT group, while 94.5 percent were false positive results in the radiography group.
• While advances in CT scans may have led to better results over chest radiography, researchers suggests that the cost-effectiveness of low-dose CT screening, as well as potential harms from false positives and overdiagnosis, must be "rigorously analyzed."
Read the New England Journal of Medicine study on low-dose CT scans.
Related Articles on CT Scans:
Pennsylvania Hospitals Latch Onto National Movement to Limit Child CT Scans
Data Shows Many Hospitals Overuse Double CT Scans
EMRs Assist in Reducing Risk of CT Radiation in EDs