scholarly journals Commentary: Pay attention to low-risk populations for lung cancer, but cautiously interpret ground-glass nodules screened by low-dose computed tomography scan

2020 ◽  
Vol 160 (3) ◽  
pp. 833-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke-Neng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Ground Glass ◽  
Computed Tomography Scan ◽  
Low Dose Computed Tomography ◽  
Tomography Scan ◽  
Ground Glass Nodules

scholarly journals Overdiagnosis of lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography screening: meta-analysis of the randomised clinical trials

Breathe ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 200013 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Brodersen ◽  
Theis Voss ◽  
Frederik Martiny ◽  
Volkert Siersma ◽  
Alexandra Barratt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Low Dose Computed Tomography

In low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer, all three main conditions for overdiagnosis in cancer screening are present: 1) a reservoir of slowly or nongrowing lung cancer exists; 2) LDCT is a high-resolution imaging technology with the potential to identify this reservoir; and 3) eligible screening participants have a high risk of dying from causes other than lung cancer. The degree of overdiagnosis in cancer screening is most validly estimated in high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs), with enough follow-up time after the end of screening to avoid lead-time bias and without contamination of the control group.Nine RCTs investigating LDCT screening were identified. Two RCTs were excluded because lung cancer incidence after the end of screening was not published. Two other RCTs using active comparators were also excluded. Therefore, five RCTs were included: two trials were at low risk of bias, two of some concern and one at high risk of bias. In a meta-analysis of the two low risk of bias RCTs including 8156 healthy current or former smokers, 49% of the screen-detected cancers were overdiagnosed. There is uncertainty about this substantial degree of overdiagnosis due to unexplained heterogeneity and low precision of the summed estimate across the two trials.Key pointsNine randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on low-dose computed tomography screening were identified; five were included for meta-analysis but only two of those were at low risk of bias.In a meta-analysis of recent low risk of bias RCTs including 8156 healthy current or former smokers from developed countries, we found that 49% of the screen-detected cancers may be overdiagnosed.There is uncertainty about the degree of overdiagnosis in lung cancer screening due to unexplained heterogeneity and low precision of the point estimate.If only high-quality RCTs are included in the meta-analysis, the degree of overdiagnosis is substantial.Educational aimsTo appreciate that low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer meets all three main conditions for overdiagnosis in cancer screening: a reservoir of indolent cancers exists in the population; the screening test is able to “tap” this reservoir by detecting biologically indolent cancers as well as biologically important cancers; and the population being screened is characterised by a relatively high competing risk of death from other causesTo learn about biases that might affect the estimates of overdiagnosis in randomised controlled trials in cancer screening

LOW-DOSE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN MOSCOW FOR LUNG CANCER SCREENING (LDCT-MLCS): BASELINE RESULTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 224-233
Author(s):  
Sergey Morozov ◽  
Viktor Gombolevskiy ◽  
Anton Vladzimirskiy ◽  
Albina Laypan ◽  
Pavel Kononets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Lung Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Lung Cancer Screening ◽  
Stage I ◽  
Malignant Neoplasms ◽  
Number Needed To Screen ◽  
Low Dose Computed Tomography

Study aim. To justify selective lung cancer screening via low-dose computed tomography and evaluate its effectiveness. Materials and methods. In 2017 we have concluded the baseline stage of “Lowdose computed tomography in Moscow for lung cancer screening (LDCT-MLCS)” trial. The trial included 10 outpatient clinics with 64-detector CT units (Toshiba Aquilion 64 and Toshiba CLX). Special low-dose protocols have been developed for each unit with maximum effective dose of 1 mSv (in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 2.2.1, Sanitary Regulations 2.6.1.1192-03). The study involved 5,310 patients (53% men, 47% women) aged 18-92 years (mean age 62 years). Diagnosis verification was carried out in the specialized medical organizations via consultations, additional instrumental, laboratory as well as pathohistological studies. The results were then entered into the “National Cancer Registry”. Results. 5310 patients (53% men, 47% women) aged 18 to 92 years (an average of 62 years) participated in the LDCT-MLCS. The final cohort was comprised of 4762 (89.6%) patients. We have detected 291 (6.1%) Lung-RADS 3 lesions, 228 (4.8%) Lung- RADS 4A lesions and 196 (4.1%) Lung-RADS 4B/4X lesions. All 4B and 4X lesions were routed in accordance with the project's methodology and legislative documents. Malignant neoplasms were verified in 84 cases (1.76% of the cohort). Stage I-II lung cancer was actively detected in 40.3% of these individuals. For the first time in the Russian Federation we have calculated the number needed to screen (NNS) to identify one lung cancer (NNS=57) and to detect one Stage I lung cancer (NNS=207). Conclusions. Based on the global experience and our own practices, we argue that selective LDCT is the most systematic solution to the problem of early-stage lung cancer screening.

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