Lung cancer screenings and guidelines

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When lung cancer is detected in its earliest stages, more treatment options are available that can result in better outcomes. To detect lung cancer early, we offer low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening. Before low-dose CT scans of the lungs, doctors usually found lung cancer once a person developed symptoms. By the time symptoms typically develop, lung cancer is more progressed and much harder to treat.

The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) found that lung cancer deaths dropped by 20 percent when people were screened using LDCT scans compared to chest X-rays. Low-dose CT scans for lung cancer allow doctors to find lung cancer sooner, giving you the best chance for successful treatment.

Lung cancer screening guidelines

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends LDCT scans of the lungs for adults aged 50 to 80 who:

  • Have a 20 or more "pack-year" history of smoking. A "pack-year" is the number of packs of cigarettes smoked daily, multiplied by the number of years smoking, such as a pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 15 years.
  • Currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years.
  • Suffer from lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Have a family history of lung cancer
  • Were exposed to asbestos at work
  • Have been treated for lung cancer more than five years ago

If you are in a high-risk group, you may need to have a lung cancer screening exam until you reach age 77 or have stopped smoking for 15 years.

You won't qualify for LDCT lung screening if you:

  • Are in active radiation or chemotherapy treatment
  • Have had a chest CT scan done within a year (you will need to wait one year to have another screening and will need a prescription)
  • Have symptoms of a lung condition such as a new cough or shortness of breath

Types of lung cancer screenings

Today, the LDCT screening test is the preferred test for detecting lung cancer, but the final diagnosis of lung cancer is based on viewing lung cells in the lab. These screenings may be from mucus you cough up (sputum cytology), fluid from an area around the lung (thoracentesis), or by using a needle or surgery (biopsy). Your provider will help you determine which test is right for you.

What if your lung cancer screening finds cancer?

Finding out you have lung cancer can be difficult. But lung cancer screening increases our ability to find and destroy cancer when it's most treatable. If your screening shows signs of cancer, we will help you get what you need to start treatment fast.

To confirm and add necessary details to your diagnosis, we strive to:

  • Get you in for imaging within a day
  • Collect all the necessary information to create your treatment plan within 72 hours

You should begin treatment within two weeks.

Learn more about lung cancer diagnosis.

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Rated “exceptional” by The National Cancer Institute

Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center is a world leader in cancer research, patient care, and education. Our status as a national leader in cancer care is reflected in our continuous designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 1973, one of 7 such centers in the United States. The ACC is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, one of a select few cancer centers in the U.S., that are working to promote equitable access to high-quality, advanced cancer care.

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