Key points
- The recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT).
- Lung cancer screening is recommended only for adults who are at high risk of getting lung cancer based on their smoking history and age.
Overview
Screening means testing for a disease when there are no symptoms or history of that disease. Doctors recommend a screening test to find a disease early, when treatment may work better.
The recommended screening test for lung cancer is low-dose computed tomography (also called a low-dose CT scan, or LDCT). During an LDCT, you lie on a table, and an x-ray machine uses a small amount of radiation to make detailed images of your lungs. The scan only takes a few minutes and doesn't hurt.
Who should be screened?
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) recommends yearly lung cancer screening with LDCT for people who:
- Have a 20 pack-year or more smoking history, and
- Smoke now or have quit within the past 15 years, and
- Are between 50 and 80 years old.
A pack-year is smoking an average of one pack of cigarettes per day for 1 year. For example, a person could have a 20 pack-year history by smoking one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.
What is the benefit of screening?
Screening people at high risk for lung cancer can reduce deaths by finding lung cancer early, when treatment works best.
What are the risks of screening?
Lung cancer screening has at least three risks:
- A lung cancer screening test can suggest that a person has lung cancer when no cancer is present. This is called a false-positive result. False-positive results can lead to follow-up tests and surgeries that are not needed and may have risks.
- A lung cancer screening test can find cases of cancer that may never have caused a problem for the patient. This is called overdiagnosis. Overdiagnosis can lead to treatment that is not needed.
- Radiation from repeated LDCT tests can cause cancer in otherwise healthy people.
Talk to your doctor about your risk of getting lung cancer and the possible risks of screening. If lung cancer screening is right for you, your doctor can refer you to a high-quality screening facility.
When should screening stop?
The Task Force recommends that yearly lung cancer screening stop when the person being screened:
- Turns 81 years old, or
- Has not smoked in 15 or more years, or
- Develops a health problem that makes the person unwilling or unable to have surgery if lung cancer is found.
Will my health insurance or Medicare cover screening?
Most insurance plans and Medicare help pay for recommended lung cancer screening tests. If the screening test finds something abnormal, you may need more tests. These follow-up tests may have a cost, such as a co-pay or deductible. Check with your insurance plan to find out what benefits are covered for lung cancer screening. For more information about Medicare coverage, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1 (877) 486-2048.