Recent research published in The Annals of the American Thoracic Society confirms that emphysema was detected in 24% to 31% of patients undergoing lung cancer screening. This means that for millions of Americans, lung cancer screenings can serve as a detection tool for emphysema.
“Medicine is rarely gifted with such a high-yield opportunity to move beyond the individual disease silo to better manage these shared comorbid conditions,” write the study’s authors.
According to U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines, approximately 15 million people are now eligible for screening. If fully implemented, up to 3 million individuals could be newly diagnosed with emphysema, enabling earlier and more targeted interventions.
Options for severe emphysema patients
Emphysema is a progressive disease. Until recently, emphysema findings were often not acted upon because they did not always trigger additional care. The standard of care for advanced emphysema patients has traditionally included bronchodilators (inhalers), pulmonary rehabilitation, and in the most severe cases, lung-volume reduction surgery or lung transplantation. Yet, a significant gap remained in treatment options – medical management still often leaves severe patients symptomatic, and surgical options are invasive and risky, making them seldom used.
Now, however, a minimally invasive standard-of-care option is changing how severe emphysema is managed. This procedure, known as bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR), is indicated for advanced emphysema patients who remain symptomatic despite maximizing pulmonary rehabilitation and medication.
The Zephyr® Valve procedure, a type of BLVR treatment, is approved for these patients. About the size of a pencil eraser, the valves are bronchoscopically placed – with no cutting – in the most diseased part of the lung. The one-way valves release trapped air, helping inhaled oxygen reach healthier tissue, allowing patients to breathe easier and increase activity levels.1 The procedure is clinically proven, backed by extensive research, and reversible, as the valves can be removed if necessary. (See risks associated with this procedure here.)
Quality of life may improve
While BLVR treatment is not a cure, it is an effective intervention that helps patients regain independence in daily activities by improving their breathing. Many patients report being able to walk longer distances without stopping for breath, climb the stairs without extreme breathlessness, and complete everyday tasks – such as shopping or household chores – with greater ease.1
Diagnosis impacts population health
Diagnosing emphysema allows for appropriate management of patients at all stages of the disease. Importantly, this provides access for unrecognized severe cases to advanced, minimally invasive treatments such as BLVR with Zephyr valves.
What can hospitals do?
Hospitals and healthcare systems can take proactive steps to ensure lung cancer screening serves as a more comprehensive tool for detecting and managing lung diseases. A key priority is standardizing radiological reporting of emphysema identified by lung cancer screening and ensuring that findings are clearly communicated to both patients and referring providers. According to the study’s authors, three options for achieving this include:
- Educate patients on the implications of emphysema findings and their impact on lung health.
- Implement structured follow-up protocols, such as automatic referrals to pulmonologists or multidisciplinary review boards, to ensure emphysema is addressed as part of a broader disease management strategy.
- Incorporate emphysema detection into quality improvement initiatives, fostering collaboration between radiologists, pulmonologists, and primary care providers to optimize intervention approaches.
As research continues to refine best practices, integrating emphysema detection into lung cancer screening workflows can drive better patient outcomes and expand preventative care for high-risk populations.
More information on lung cancer and emphysema screenings is available through the American Lung Association. To learn more about Zephyr Valves and BLVR treatment, visit Pulmonx.com.
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Links:
https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1513/AnnalsATS.202207-631PS?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed#:~:text=Track%20Citations-,Emphysema%20Detection%20in%20the%20Course%20of%20Lung%20Cancer%20Screening%3A%20Optimizing%20a%20Rare%20Opportunity%20to%20Impact%20Population%20Health,-James%20L.%20Mulshine
The importance of low-dose CT screening to identify emphysema in asymptomatic participants with and without a prior diagnosis of COPD – Clinical ImagingIncidental Findings on Low-Dose CT Scan Lung Cancer Screenings and Deaths From Respiratory Diseases – CHEST
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines
How It Works: Zephyr Valve Treatment for COPD & Emphysema
Pulmonx | References and Bibliography
Pulmonx | Zephyr Valve Prescriptive Information
