Early Diagnosis and Lung Cancer Screening

H. Balata*, S. L. Quaife, C. Craig, D. J. Ryan, P. Bradley, P. A.J. Crosbie, R. L. Murray, M. Evison

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Lung cancer remains the most significant cause of cancer death, accounting for about 20% of all cancer-related mortality. A significant reason for this is delayed diagnosis, either due to lack of symptoms in early-stage disease or presentation with non-specific symptoms common with a broad range of alternative diagnoses. More is needed in terms of increasing public awareness, providing adequate healthcare professional education and implementing clinical pathways that improve the earlier diagnosis of symptomatic lung cancer. Low-dose computed tomography screening of high-risk, asymptomatic populations has been shown to reduce lung cancer mortality, with focus now shifting towards how best to implement lung cancer screening on a wider scale in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner. For maximum benefit, efforts must be made to optimise uptake, especially among high-risk populations with significant socioeconomic deprivation, as well as successfully incorporate tobacco-dependency treatment. Quality assured programme management will be critical to minimising screening-related harms and adequately managing incidental findings. By undertaking the above, there can be optimism that lung cancer outcomes can be improved significantly in the near future.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)708-715
Number of pages8
JournalClinical Oncology
Volume34
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2022

Keywords

  • Early diagnosis
  • lung cancer
  • screening
  • Early Detection of Cancer/methods
  • Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging
  • Mass Screening
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Humans

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