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View Full Version : Screening Reduces Lung Cancer Mortality



mellowsong
06-30-11, 03:23 PM
Nick Mulcahy
June 29, 2011 — Results from the landmark National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), which indicate that screening with low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) reduces mortality from lung cancer, have been published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The 53,000-person trial found a 20% reduction in deaths from lung cancer among current and former heavy smokers screened with low-dose helical CT, compared with those screened with chest radiograph (P = .004); the study has a median follow-up of 6.5 years. These principal findings were first reported publicly in October 2010, and were covered at the time by Medscape Medical News.

The newly published paper includes previously unavailable details on the diagnostic procedures performed after positive screenings and their related complications rates, as well as details on the lung cancers that were diagnosed.
Read more: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/745530

Reesacat
06-30-11, 05:44 PM
I could see where this might be useful for smokers. Just how low dose low-dose CT is is another question......

mellowsong
06-30-11, 06:18 PM
I also wondered about the radiation. Yes, it is finding tumors when they can be treated...but, like mammograms, how many other cancers might it be causing...even low dose?

A chest X-ray exposes a person to an average of 8 REM.
Regular chest CT: 700 REM
Helical CT: I cannot find specifics but I did find a claim that radiation is 30 to 70% less than a typical CT which is still pretty significant.

The is a very informative Radiation and Risk article/table:
http://www.physics.isu.edu/radinf/risk.htm