Each year more than 172,000 people in this country are diagnosed with lung cancer. Unfortunately, this year more than 160,000 people diagnosed with lung cancer will die. In most cases, lung cancer is diagnosed after it’s too late to treat. The spiral CT lung cancer screening scan is an early cancer detection exam. Detecting lung cancer early (before you have symptoms), followed by treatment, can provide an 80% cure rate, thereby increasing the chance for survival dramatically. It is the only proven effective screening procedure for those at high risk for lung cancer.
Why is a CT lung cancer screening exam performed?
Recent studies show that spiral CT is more sensitive than chest x-ray for the detection of lung nodules, and that it can detect nodules too small to be seen on chest x-ray. At this early stage most lung cancers are curable. If you were a smoker or if you are a smoker, you are at high risk for lung cancer. Yearly screening is your barometer for health and your best chance for survival should you develop lung cancer.
Who is at high risk for lung cancer?
You are at high risk for lung cancer if you are or were a smoker with the equivalent of a 10 "pack-year" history, and you are older than 49 years. To calculate your personal "pack-year" history, multiply the number of years you have smoked by the number of packs per day. (For example, if you smoked 2 packs per day for 5 years, you have a 10 "pack-year" history.) If you have a "pack-year" history of 10 or more, you should strongly consider annual chest CT screening as you are at high risk for lung cancer.
What can I expect during a CT lung cancer screening exam?
After a brief medical history is taken, you will be positioned on the CT table by a technologist. You will be asked to hold your breath for about 20 seconds and then your exam will be over. There is no injection of contrast.
How long will my CT lung cancer screening exam take?
The actual scanning time is less than a minute.
Is the CT lung cancer screening scan exam safe?
Our CT scanner uses a very low dose of radiation exposure with negligible adverse effects. With 20 seconds of actual exposure, the risks are not much different from the risks one assumes in everyday life such as driving on I-95 or flying in an airplane.
Do I need a referral (prescription) to have my CT lung cancer screening scan exam?
You may schedule a CT lung cancer screening exam without a referral (prescription). Because this is a new screening procedure, please be aware that this exam is not covered by Medicare or insurance at this time. Payment must be made at the time of the exam. The results of your exam will be sent to your physician within 24 hrs.
When will I know the results of my exam?
A detailed written report of the procedure will be sent to the referring physician within 24 hours. Your physician will contact you to discuss the results. Urgent results are telephoned immediately to your doctor who will discuss the results with you.
What if my exam is negative (no nodules eetected)?
If your scan results are negative that means that no nodules were detected. If you are at high risk for lung cancer, we recommend repeating the screening annually. Early detection is your best chance for complete cure.
What if my exam is positive (nodules detected)?
If your exam detects a nodule or nodules that raise concern, you will be advised to make an appointment with a lung specialist. A second type of diagnostic test may be required. Frequently, nodules detected on the screening test are subsequently revealed to be benign granulomas or scars on the diagnostic study or on the follow-up CT scan that shows no change. Therefore, an initial positive screening test does not necessarily mean that you have lung cancer.
What should I do to prepare for a CT lung cancer screening exam?
There are no preparation requirements for this exam.
Where can I find additional information on the Internet about spiral CT lung cancer screening?
