Thoracic Surgery: Lung Cancer Screening

Designed to Detect Cancer in the Earliest Stages

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Our Lung Cancer Screening program in partnership with George Washington University Hospital is designed to detect lung cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable.

Our specialists use low-dose computed tomography (CT) following the high-risk inclusion criteria established by the National Lung Cancer Screening Trial, which has shown a dramatic improvement in patient survival rates using this technology. In fact, a recent study by the National Cancer Institute found that patients who were screened with CT scans showed a 20 percent reduction in deaths from lung cancer than patients who had chest X-rays.

Lung Cancer Screening Highlights

• Safe, low-dose CT scans interpreted by board-certified radiologists
• Covered by most major insurance plans, Medicare and DMV Medicaid
• Multidisciplinary specialists available to review abnormal CT scans and provide treatment recommendations
• Nurse navigator available to provide screening education, scheduling and guidance

Lung Cancer Screening Eligibility

Patients who meet the below screening criteria may be at high-risk for developing lung cancer. You may benefit from a screening if:

• You are between 50 and 77 years old
• You have at least a 20 pack year smoking history (ex. you have smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years)
• You are a current smoker, or quit smoking within 15 years

If you are a high-risk patient, you should have a baseline CT scan, and repeat the scan yearly.