What Patients Need to Know About CT Lung Cancer Screening
By Steven Zinck, M.D, Thoracic Imaging Section Chief, The Radiology Group,
P.C. at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, and the Center for Medical
Imaging
- There are certainly more studies in the literature demonstrating the
benefit of smoking cessation
than there are for CT screening.
- No major health care organization or cancer society currently recommends
lung cancer screening.
- Studies to determine the benefit of lung cancer screening are ongoing
and results are expected by the end of the decade.
- Most insurance companies will not pay for the initial screening exam.
The majority of patients must pay out of pocket for the initial exam. If a
nodule is found, insurance companies typically pay for at least a portion of
the follow-up scans.
- CT screening identifies many nodules, the majority of which are not
cancer.
- Further CT scans and/or invasive procedures may be needed to evaluate
some nodules, which means increased radiation exposure and risk associated
with interventional or surgical procedures.
- A negative screening exam does not preclude the subsequent development
of lung cancer.
- Some cancers may not be detected or may be missed by CT screening.
