The above image shows a lung nodule in a screening CT scan requested by the patient, a 69-year-old former smoker.
Who should be screened?
The American Lung Association recommends lung cancer screening for current or former smokers aged 55-74, people who have a strong family history of lung cancer, asbestos exposure, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and others who may be considered high risk on an individual basis by their physicians. In January 2013 the American Cancer Society issued recommendations for lung cancer screening with CT. According to these recommendations, ”Clinicians should ascertain the smoking status and smoking history of their patients aged 55 years to 74 years. Clinicians with access to high-volume, high-quality lung cancer screening and treatment centers should initiate a discussion about lung cancer screening with patients aged 55 years to 74 years who have at least a 30–pack-year smoking history, currently smoke, or have quit within the past 15 years, and who are in relatively good health.”
Low-Dose CT Screening at NYP/Columbia
The CT Lung Cancer Screening Program at NYP/Columbia offers high quality imaging with state-of-the-art low-dose CT equipment. Our program includes subspecialty-trained chest radiologists as well as Board-certified pulmonologists, oncologists, and thoracic surgeons. Our low-dose equipment delivers less than 20% of the radiation dose used in an average diagnostic chest CT exam.
In the State of New York a physician referral is required for CT lung screening. If you do not have a referral, please call our Pulmonary Nodule Assessment Program, and a pulmonary physician will determine if CT screening is right for you. If so, it can be performed the same day as your consultation. For patients who do not have their own doctors, and who have an abnormality detected during CT screening, our team provides seamless referrals for follow-up testing and treatment.
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