Researchers from Italy have reported that CT screening of persons exposed to asbestos is useful for the detection of early lung cancer. The details of this study appeared in the November, 2007 issue of The Oncologist.[1]

Persons exposed to asbestos have an increased incidence of mesothelioma and lung cancer. Low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer detects more cancers at base-line in high-risk smokers than does chest-X-ray. However, there is still debate over whether or not annual screening of smokers can reduce lung cancer mortality. The present study sought to determine if screening CT could detect early mesothelioma and lung cancer in a population exposed to asbestos.

Over 1,000 persons enrolled in a surveillance program for asbestos-exposed workers participated in this program. The median duration of exposure to asbestos was 30 years, and the median age was 58 years. Sixty-six percent of participants were smokers with a median of 18.5 pack years. Results of CT were compared to routine chest X-rays. Eight-hundred thirty-four non-calcified nodules were detected in 44% of participants on initial CT compared to 43 nodules in 4% of participants by chest X-ray. There were nine cases of lung cancer detected by CT and none by chest X-ray. Eight lung cancers were Stage I and one was Stage IIA and all were treated with potentially curative surgery. In addition, one person had a thymic carcinoid detected by CT. There were 11 false positive results. No cases of mesothelioma were detected in this study.

These authors concluded that initial CT screening was of benefit in this high-risk population with relatively low rates of smoking prevalence.

Comments: These data suggest that CT screening of this high-risk population was of value and it will be of interest to determine the effects of subsequent CT screening examinations, especially for detecting early cases of mesothelioma.

Related News:

Screening CT Detects More Lung Cancers than Chest X-Ray at Baseline (11/07/2007)

Screening CT May Increase the Detection of Early Lung Cancer without Affecting Mortality (03/07/2007)

CT Lung Cancer Screening Outside a Clinical Trial Not Recommended by ACCP (9/18/2007)

Many Abnormalities on CT Screening for Lung Cancer Do Not Require Biopsies (5/5/2006)

Computed Tomography Screening for Lung Cancer Detects Early Disease (3/1/2006)

International Conference Recommends Lung Cancer Screening (4/27/2005)

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