Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines with Low-Dose CT: What You Need to Know
North Memorial Health Cancer Center - Robbinsdale
North Memorial Health – Robbinsdale Hospital
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. – but early detection through screening can save lives.
This article outlines current lung cancer screening guidelines and explains how low-dose CT lung cancer screening works, who it’s for, and what to expect.
What is a low-dose CT scan for lung cancer screening?
A low-dose CT scan is a special type of CT (computed tomography) scan that uses a much lower dose of radiation than a standard CT. It takes detailed pictures of your lungs so providers can find small spots or nodules before they cause symptoms.
In this video, Dr. Joseph Levine, MD, Oncologist / Hematologist and Medical Director of the North Memorial Health Cancer Center, discusses the guidelines for who should be getting screened with a low-dose CT scan and how our lung nodule program supports patients whose screening identifies lung nodules (small spots or growths in the lung that are often found on CT scans).
For most people, a low-dose CT lung cancer screening:
- Is painless and noninvasive
- Takes about 10 minutes once you are on the table
- Does not require needles or intravenous contrast for standard screening
- Involves lying on a table that moves through a ring-shaped scanner while you hold your breath for a few seconds at a time
Low-dose CT is the recommended test for lung cancer screening in people who meet the high-risk criteria below.
Who qualifies for lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan?
According to the American Cancer Society, individuals with both these factors should be completing an annual screening for lung cancer with a low-dose CT scan:
- People aged 50 to 80
- Have at least a 20 pack-year history of smoking
A pack-year is equal to smoking 1 pack per day for a year. For example, a person could have a 20 pack-year history by smoking 1 pack a day for 20 years, or by smoking 2 packs a day for 10 years.
According to the American Lung Association, fewer than 1 in 5 eligible Americans are getting screened. If you are a candidate for lung cancer screening, speak with your primary care doctor about scheduling a low-dose CT scan.
Why is lung cancer screening important?
Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer, with over 2 million deaths worldwide each year. 75% of new lung cancers are in an advanced stage when they are diagnosed, and 70% already have lymph nodes involved. Because lung cancer is frequently diagnosed so late, the overall 5-year survival rate in the US is only about 24%.
Here at North Memorial Health, we are committed to finding lung cancer at an earlier and more curable stage of the disease. This commitment has led to our Lung Cancer Screening program. Using low-radiation CT scans of the chest, our goal is to screen patients who are particularly at risk for lung cancer. We want to catch abnormal masses in the lung when they are still small and can be treated with surgery or radiation, with a high likelihood of cure. For example, when we are able to surgically treat a lung cancer that is 1 cm or less, the 5-year survival rate improves to 92%!
Should I have lung cancer screening?
If you have been a long-term smoker, begin by calculating your “pack-years.ˮ This is done by multiplying the number of years you’ve smoked by the packs per day you smoked. For example, if you smoked one pack per day for 30 years, you have a 30 pack-year smoking history. If you smoked ½ pack per day for 40 years, you have a 20 pack-year history.
If you are aged 50-80 with at least a 20 pack-year smoking history, you qualify for lung cancer screening. Even if you quit smoking several years ago, your past exposure may increase your risk of lung cancer, and early detection is still crucial!
How should I make it happen?
If you are a past or current smoker, please consider lung cancer screening. Begin by talking to your primary care provider, who can place the referral and help you get the test scheduled. The scan itself is painless, only takes about 10 minutes to complete, and requires no intravenous contrast. It just might save your life!
What happens if they find something wrong?
We often find small densities in the lung on a screening CT scan of the chest. Some of these are so small that the proper response is to follow-up with a new scan in several months. Others are found to have been stable over many years on prior imaging and are thus considered benign. But if a more worrisome growth is discovered, we stand ready to assist you further with a work-up that may include a biopsy for diagnosis. Lung cancer screening is designed to give you peace of mind – that you are being attentive to your risk of lung cancer, and that you have a team here at North Memorial Health that will guide you each step of the way if something worrisome is uncovered on your test.
Our lung nodule program: support after your low-dose CT scan
If a lung nodule or other concerning finding is discovered on your low-dose CT scan, you are not left to navigate next steps alone. Our lung nodule program:
- Reviews your imaging and prior records
- Recommends the right follow-up plan based on national guidelines
- Coordinates any additional scans, procedures, or referrals you may need
- Keeps your primary care provider informed throughout the process
The goal is to give you clear answers, a structured plan, and a team that walks with you through every step of your lung cancer screening journey.
Schedule a primary care visit
If you think you may qualify for lung cancer screening or have questions about low-dose CT, start by scheduling a primary care visit: