Dr. Mulshine Discusses New Recommendations for Lung Cancer Screening

James L. Mulshine, MD, professor, Associate Provost for Research, Vice President, Rush University Medical Center discusses new USPSTF recommendations for lung cancer screening.

Mulshine says this is an important and new development for community oncologists because it promises better outcomes for their patients. Theses new recommendations, which state that “high risked” individuals should be screened for lung cancer, are based on the results of the national lung screening trial. This trial found that when comparing CT scans and X-rays, the CT scan arm had a mortality reduction benefit of 20%. This confirms previous data that states CT scans can advance the early detection of lung cancer, Mulshine says.

After reviewing these findings and thousands of other papers, the USPSTF found that the benefit of CT scans outweigh the potential harms. Some insurance providers have already started to cover this service, Mulshine says, while the remaining insurance providers have until the end of the year to submit their plan for coverage.

<<< View more from the 15th Annual International Lung Cancer Congress