More research needed on use of CT scans to screen for lung cancer

In a recent Duke News release, Duke Professor, Edward F. Patz Jr., M.D., (James and Alice Chen Professor of Radiology, Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Professor of Pathology, Director, Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory) indicates that additional research needs to be completed before CT scans are routinely used to screen for lung cancer:

"Patz said the New England Journal of Medicine article raises awareness of the potential of CT scans for improving lung cancer diagnosis. But he said the study did not compare the use of CT scans against a control group of patients who received chest X-rays or no imaging at all. Such a comparative study is essential if the medical community is to prove whether CT scans decrease lung cancer deaths, the ultimate goal of a screening program, he said.

Because of these factors, Patz said, it is important to await the results of an ongoing randomized clinical trial comparing chest X-rays against CT before concluding that screening will save lives. The study, called NLST, is being conducted at over 25 sites nationally and is funded by the National Cancer Institute."