Low dose CT in early lung cancer diagnosis: Prevalence data
Cardinale, L.; Cortese, G.; Borasio, P.; Dogliotti, L.; Ferraris, F.; Novello, S.; Perotto, F.; Scagliotti, G.; Fava, C.
La Radiologia Medica 110(5-6): 532-543
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-8362 PMID: 16437039 Document Number: 593185
Lung cancer has a high mortality rate and its prognosis largely depends on early detection. We report the prevalence data of the study on early detection of lung cancer with low-dose spiral CT underway at our hospital. Since the beginning of 2001, 519 asymptomatic volunteers have undergone annual blood tests, sputum tests, urinalyses and low-dose spiral CT. The inclusion criteria were age (=/> 55 years old), a history of cigarette smoking and a negative history for previous neoplastic disease. The diagnostic workup varied depending on the size and CT features of the nodules detected. At baseline, the CT scan detected nodules > 5 mm in 22% of subjects; the nodules were single in 42 and multiple in 71. In 53% of cases the findings were completely negative, while in 122 (23.4%) nodules with a diameter < 5 mm were detected. Six cases of lung cancer were identified, of which four were stage I, one stage was IIIB and one was stage IV with adrenal metastases. Our preliminary data on spiral CT as a potential new diagnostic tool for lung cancer screening, although less promising than the Japanese and ELCAP results, confirm the feasibility of the technique. Additional validation is, however, required.