Results of three-year mass screening programme for lung cancer using mobile low-dose spiral computed tomography scanner

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of annual screening fo r lung cancer by low-dose computed tomography (CT) and the characteristics of identified lung cancers. Subjects consisted of 5483 general population a ged 40-74 years. who received initial CT scans in 1996, followed by repeat annual scans for most subjects in 1997 and 1998, with a total of 13 786 sca ns taken during 1996-1998. Work-up examinations for patients with suspiciou s lesions were conducted using diagnostic CTs. The initial screening in 199 6 detected suspicious nodules in 279 (5.1%) of 5483 subjects, and 22 (8%) w ere confirmed surgically to have lung cancer. Corresponding figures in 1997 and 1998 screening studies were 173 (3.9%) of 4425 and 25 (14%) of 173, an d 136 (3.5%) of 3878 and 9 (7%) of 136, respectively The sensitivity and sp ecificity of detecting surgically confirmed lung cancer were 55% (22/40) an d 95% (4960/5199) in 1996 and 83% (25/30) and 97% (4113/4252) in 1997 scree ning, respectively. 88% (55/60) of lung cancers identified on screening and surgically confirmed were AJCC stage IA. Our trial allowed detection of ne arly 11 times the expected annual number of early lung cancers. Repeat CT a llowed the detection of more aggressive, rapidly growing lung cancers, comp ared to those in the initial screening. (C) 2001 Cancer Research Campaign h ttp://www.bjcancer.com.