IS IT LUNG CANCER? GET A C.T. SCAN!
Lung Cancer Deaths Reduced by CT Scanning, National Trial Halted
By Zosia Chustecka, from Medscape Medical News
Medscape – The huge randomized National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) in the United States has been stopped after 8-year results showed that screening heavy smokers with low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) significantly reduced deaths from lung cancer, compared with screening with chest x-rays.
“This is the first time that we have seen clear evidence of a significant reduction in lung cancer mortality with a screening test in a randomized controlled clinical trial,” said Christine Berg, MD, NLST project officer for the Lung Screening Study at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which funded the trial. Her comments appear in a press release from the NCI announcing the results.
This finding will “have implications for the screening and management of lung cancer for many years to come,” Dr. Berg predicted.
Initial Reactions
“The fact that the NLST was stopped early so that the tremendous positive results could be made known speaks volumes to the ability of helical CT screening of high-risk individuals to saves lives,” according to a statement from the American College of Radiology (ACR). It also reports that the ACR looks forward to discussions about instigating a potential lung cancer screening program.
Significant Reduction in Mortality
The trial began in 2002 and has involved more than 53,000 current and former heavy smokers 55 to 74 years of age. Individuals were randomized to undergo screening annually for 3 years with either CT or chest x-rays, and were then followed for another 5 years.
The results, which were reviewed by the trial’s Data and Safety Monitoring Board on October 20, show a statistically significant difference in lung cancer mortality in the 2 groups, which led to the trial being halted. There were 354 lung cancer deaths among those who underwent CT screening and 442 among those who underwent chest x-ray (a 20% reduction).
“Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States and throughout the world, so a validated approach that can reduce lung cancer mortality by even 20% has the potential to spare very significant numbers of people from the ravages of this disease,” Dr. Varmus explained.
Dr. Pinna says:
If you want to know anything, you need a “CLOSE AND COMPLETE LOOK!” That applies to girlfriends, boyfriends and cancers.
The CT Scan is the best way to screen for Lung Cancer. An even better way is the MRI, but that is too expensive for screening. If you are worried about that cough, get a CT Scan.
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