Low Dose Lung Screening
CT Lung Cancer screening helps evaluate the lungs for any signs of lung cancer or risks to develop lung cancer. This advanced procedure is designed to detect small nodules that might present but are not visible on a routine chest X-Ray. Recent studies present that detection of nodules are at a small size and may dramatically improve likely hood of surviving lung cancer.
Charter Radiology utilizes a state-of-the-art 128 slice Low Dose CT scanner that generates the images of the lungs with a reduction in radiation dose up to 60%.
Lung Cancer Facts
- Lung Cancer accounts for 1 of 3 cancer deaths, and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in all ethnic groups.
- Second most diagnosed cancer in men and women.
- According to Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) 87% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking, however 60% of lung cancer patients have never smoked or quit years ago.
- Only 16% of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at the earliest and most crucial stage.
Who Needs Lung Screening
- Former or current smokers ages 55-77 years.
- Tobacco smoking history of at least 30 pack-years (one pack-year = smoking one pack per day for one year; 1 pack = 20 cigarettes).
If your results are normal you may be asked to come back in a year for a follow-up screening. If the radiologist discovers a pulmonary nodule you may have to get a diagnostic chest CT to evaluate the nodules or areas of interest. An initial positive screening does not mean you have lung cancer.
