The American Lung Association is optimistic about the promising results of NCI’s National Lung Screening Trial, which indicate low-dose CT scans can have significant impact on lung cancer mortality. This study is the first comprehensive clinical trial to find that screening high-risk individuals with low-dose CT reduces lung cancer deaths by 20% compared with chest x-ray.

“Although the National Lung Screening Trial results are an important step forward in the fight against lung cancer, the single most important thing any smoker can do to reduce their chances of developing or dying from lung cancer is to quit smoking,” said Albert Rizzo, MD, American Lung Association Board Chair-Elect, and a pulmonary and critical care physician. “The Surgeon General’s 30th Report released in December confirmed that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke, and the sooner someone quits smoking, the less likely he or she is to develop tobacco-related diseases.”

The American Lung Association is also convening an expert panel to review the National Lung Screening Trial study and to make policy recommendations.  This panel will be lead by Jonathan M. Samet, MD, MS, a lung health expert and a member of the American Lung Association’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

“If current or former smokers have questions regarding whether or not they should receive screening, the Lung Association recommends they speak with their health-care provider about the benefits and risks associated with screening,” said Dr. Rizzo. ■