Preliminary experiences with low-dose computed tomography for lung cancer screening in Hungary

• Published in: Orvosi hetilap Vol. 155; no. 10; p. 383
• Main Authors: Moizs, Mariann, Bajzik, Gábor, Lelovics, Zsuzsanna, Rakvács, Marianna, Strausz, János, Repa, Imre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Hungarian
• Published: Hungary 09.03.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Humans; Hungary - epidemiology; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - epidemiology; Lung Neoplasms - prevention & control; Male; Mass Chest X-Ray; Mass Screening - methods; Middle Aged; Radiation Dosage; Risk Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; lung cancer; alacsony dózisú CT-alapú tüdőrákszűrés; LDCT; tüdőrák; tüdőszűrés; lung screening
• ISSN: 0030-6002
• DOI: 10.1556/OH.2014.29845

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of all types of cancers both in developed countries and Hungary. To obtain experience and facilitate the application of low-dose computed tomography-based lung cancer screening as a targeted public health screening procedure. Volunteers without thoracic complaints above the age of 40 years (n = 963) were screened for lung cancer using digital chest radiography and low-dose computed tomography. Two lung cancers were found among the participants screened with digital chest radiography (0.2%). After informed consent, 173 individuals with normal chest radiography findings (n = 943) took the opportunity to voluntarily participate in low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer. After 3 or 12 months, 65 individuals had follow up control examinations based on the size and characteristics of the detected lesions. Among them, one participant was found to have lung cancer using low-dose computed tomography. These results indicate that low-dose computed tomography-based lung cancer screening as a public health screening procedure can enhance the success of screening with 50% (from 0.2% to 0.3%). The cost-benefit ratio can be raised if chest radiography is performed prior to the low-dose computed tomography examination.