[Computed tomography screening for lung cancer]

Rev Med Suisse. 2012 Nov 21;8(363):2206-11.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Lung cancer screening has been the focus of intense interest since the publication in 2011 of the NLST trial (National Lung Screening Trial) showing a mortality reduction in smokers undergoing 3-year screening by chest computed tomography. Although these data appear promising, many issues remain to be resolved, such as high rate of false positive cases, risk of overdiagnosis, optimal intervals between screens, duration of the screening process, feasibility, and cost. Structured screening programs appear crucial to guarantee patient information, technical quality, and multidisciplinary management. Despite these uncertainties, several guidelines already state that screening should be performed in patients at risk, whereas investigators stress that more data are needed. How should the primary care physician deal with individual patients requests? This review provides some clues on this complex issue.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • False Positive Reactions
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Physicians, Primary Care
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*